Observations Concerning Fossil Organic Remains. 107 



indicate clearly, that they must have lived in the places 

 where their remains are deposited. But this phenomenon is 

 directly opposed to what we see at the present day ; tor no one 

 of these animals lives in the northern hemisphere, but on the 

 contrary, in the midst of the torrid zone. It seems therefore, 

 that all connexion with climate, is inapplicable to our present 

 subject. Nor are we able to escape the embarrassment of 

 these opposing facts, by admitting a change of temperature 

 at that period : for we find the Russian mammoth provided 

 with a covering perfectly adapted to a severe climate. All 

 that it is permitted for us to say here, is, that these animals 

 have been able to exist in the different countries where we 

 have found their remains. This compels us to suppose that 

 during the existence of these animals upon the earth, there 

 was a cHmate very different from ours ; more uniform, in 

 which they could live and propagate as other animals in 

 their native country. 



In admitting this as the most probable reason, it follows 

 as a necessary consequence, that we are not obliged in or- 

 der to explain the occurrence of these remains in the north- 

 ern hemisphere, to suppose that they were transported thith- 

 er by great currents of water; nor have we occasion to cal- 

 culate the epochs of their transportation ; from whence it 

 follows also, we have no farther occasion to go in pursuit of 

 proofs of epochs, drawn from the strata, which^ it has been 

 supposed, contain the evidence of them. 



Whatever is true in relation to animal remains, must be 

 so likewise with regard to vegetables, of which similar gene- 

 ra live at present, only in warm climates. 



Such a proposition, which appears to me very probable, 

 gives a new aspect to the notions which have been formed, 

 respecting this early period, and invites us to enquire into the 

 most probable causes, which might have operated to bring 

 about the phenomena, to which we have just recalled the 

 attention of geologists. More extended researches, and 

 more complete discoveries will place us in a condition to 

 form a comparative fossil physiology, to be added to the 

 comparative anatomy of a similar nature ; for which we 

 are indebted to the modern Pliny of France. It is there- 

 fore much to be desired that another Cuvier should ap- 

 pear to fulfil a task so important in the natural history of 

 the earth. 



