S04 CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. 



mains of shells, fishes, Palms, arborescent ferns. Turtles, gigantic Lizards, 

 and unknown quadrupeds ; an assemblage of organic remains, for which it 

 is difficult to account, unless we suppose, that the bed in which they are 

 enclosed was deposited by a river, or lake of fresh water. 



Athly. That the chalk subsequently to its consohdation has suffered 

 extensive destruction ; the upper beds having been swept away, and ex- 

 tensive basins formed on its surface. 



5thly. That the excavations, or basins of the chalk, have been filled 

 up by a series of depositions, possessing very different characters to any 

 that preceded them ; and which in some places (Isle of Wight, Paris, &c.) 

 consist of alternations of marine, and fresh water deposits. 



Gthly. That these newer depositions have also been broken up, and in 

 a great measure destroyed, by an irruption of water in a state of violent 

 commotion ; a catastrophe to whose powerful agency the present form 

 of the surface of the earth, and the accumulations of beds of gravel, sand, 

 &c. are to be attributed. 



Ithly. That it is only among these last and newest deposits, the wrecks 

 of ancient formations, that the remains of the EleiDhant, Deer, Horse, and 

 other land quadrupeds, have hitherto been discovered. 



Lastly, That the present effects of the ocean appear to be wholly 

 inadequate to produce changes hke those which have formerly taken place. 



Hence it appears, that in the lapse of ages, the sea alternately encroaches 

 on, and retreats from the land, and the districts it formerly occupied 



become the habitation of terrestrial animals and vegetables ; but other 



revolutions succeed, the sea returns to its ancient bed, and the countries 

 from which it retires, are again fitted for the reception of their former 

 inhabitants. 



Thus, as an elegant writer* has remarked, to discover order and intel- 

 ligence in scenes of apparent wildness and confusion, is the pleasing task 

 of the geological enquirer, who recognizes in the changes which are con- 

 tinually taking place on the surface of the globe, a series of awful but 



* Dr. Paris. 



