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156 ) 



[Sect. VI. 



Section YI 



GEOLOGY. 



.-M 



Bx CHARLES DARWIN- Esq., FE.S,, F.G.S. 



A PERSON embarked on a naval expedition, who wishes 

 to attend to Geology, is placed in a position in some 

 respects highly advantageous, and in others as much to 

 the contraiy. He can hardly expect during his compara- 



tively short visits at one place, to map out the area and 

 sequence of widely extended formations ; and the most 



important deductions in geology must ever depend on 



this having been carefully executed ; he must generally 

 confine himself to isolated sections and small areas, in 

 which, liow^ever, there can be no doubt many interesting 



facts may 



r 



if 



collected = O 



other 



hand, he is ad- 



mirably situated for studying the still active causes of 

 those changes, which, accumulated during long-continuod 

 ages, it is the object of geology to record and explain. 

 He is bo 



r 



formation 



S imve 



the ocean, from which most sedimentary 

 been deposited. During the soundings 

 which are so frequently carried on, he is excellently 

 placed for studving the nature of the bottom, and the 



distribution of the living organisms and dead remains 

 strewed over it. Again, on sea-shores, he can watch the 

 breakers slowly eating into the coast-cliffs, and he can 



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