LECTURE X. 281 



at St. Acheul, near Amiens, at Menchecourt, and other localities 

 in the vicinity of Abbeville, and in wbicla flint im^Dlements are 

 found associated with the bones of the mammoth and rhinoceros 

 tichorhinus. 



" I therefore consider the deposits of Moulin-Quignon of a 

 more recent origin, and incline, in this respect, to the opinion 

 of Elie de Beaumont ; but this learned geologist adds, that 

 this deposit is synchronous with the formation of the peat, with 

 which I cannot agree. The stratification at a much higher 

 level, the nature of this stratification which indicates the action 

 of water in rapid motion, do not admit of a relation between 

 the phenomenon to which this deposit owes its origin, and the 

 conditions which gave rise to the peat. The peat formation is, 

 in my opinion, much more recent, and in it the waters present 

 relations similar to the present, and which would be vainly 

 sought for in the conditions which may be inferred from the 

 flint deposits at Moulin-Quignon. 



" I consequently rank this formation among the diluvium, 

 but I have declared on the spot that I cannot exactly determine 

 its constitution, as may be done with the well known deposits 

 of Menchecourt and St. Acheul. 



" To render the subject more plain, I crave permission to 

 describe the phenomena of the diluvium in the north of France 

 as established by geologists who have specially studied this 

 subject. 



" 1. Excavation of our present valleys by erosion, a work of 

 long duration, which required large masses of water. 



" 2. Development of the Fauna of the mammoth upon the so 

 formed soil of France, which was covered with forests inhabited 

 by the elephants and rhinoceros, forests of which scarcely any 

 traces are left, whilst the animals which inhabited them have 

 left their bones in the soil. 



"Formation of the lower alluvium of our valleys, by streams, 

 gravel below, sand above, with numerous rehcs of mammoth, 

 rhinoceros tichorhinus, and flint hatchets, in the valley of the 

 Somme. These deposits have filled up the previously scooped 

 out valleys to a height of ten to fifteen meters, so that at Paris 

 they rise thirty-five to forty meters above the level of the sea. 



