dQ Observations Concerning Fossil Organic Remains. 



tained ; and also, that these reHcs were first apparent in the 

 transition class, though in a very small proportion ; and be- 

 longed only to the class of zoophiles and testareous ani- 

 mals. Thus he explained, most decidedly, the antiquity of 

 the marine and terrestrial animals; maintaining that the first 

 possessed the most ancient origin. 



It was, when pursuing these investigations, and engaged in 

 the study of the genera and species of organic remains, 

 that, with his customary sagacity, he remarked, how widely 

 those species differ which are the products of more ancient 

 rocks, from such as exist at the present day ; and on the 

 contrary, how closely those species which occur in the 

 most recent formations, approach to existing animals. 



To conclude, here is another observation of Werner, by 

 which it is proved, beyond a doubt, that he attached a high 

 importance to these studies. He insisted upon the observa- 

 tion that many fossil species are limited to particular rocks, 

 while others, on the contrary, possess a wider distribution ; 

 these last appearing to have enjoyed an organization which 

 enabled them to live during a variety of changes, which ex- 

 terminated those found only in particular rocks.* 



My profound veneration for the high merits of Werner has 

 occasioned the foregoing remarks, and which, I trust, have 

 been made with propriety. ' 



Geological question proposed by M. Brongniart. 



(Descrip. geolog. des environs de Paris, p. 92.) 



"When we have in two formations remote from each oth- 

 er, a difference of structure, but the same organic remains ; 

 ought we to refer them to different series, or in consequence 

 of the general and easily ascertained resemblance of the im- 

 bedded fossil remains, to consider them as belongini; to the 

 same formation, when not opposed to any fact connected 

 with the superposition of rocks elsewhere ?" 



Reply of M. Brongniart. 



" We should not forget that one of the principal objects 

 of geology is to determine the different epochs which have 

 succeeded each other in the formation of the globe, and to 

 ascertain the particular strata which were formed at these 

 epochs. 



* See Prof. Jameson's notes to Cuvicr. 



