98 



FOSSIL MAMMALIA 



strata, which are filled with marine shells. The consequence 

 deduced from this is, that the sea did not rest upon them for 

 any length of time, and that the catastrophe which over- 

 whelmed them was a grand, but transitory, marine inundation. 



It is the opinion of the Baron, as we noticed before in treat- 

 ing of the elephant, that this inundation did not rise above the 

 higher mountain ranges. Strata analogous to those covering 

 the fossil remains in question, he declares are not to be found 

 in such situations, nor yet the fossil remains, not even in the 

 more elevated vallies, except in some parts of South America. 

 It is proper to remark that this opinion has been controverted 

 by Dr. Buckland, to whose work we must content ourselves 

 with referring the reader, without presuming to decide upon 

 the question. 



The bones are generally neither rolled, nor are the skeletons 

 found perfect ; they are most usually scattered in disorder, and 

 partly fractured. This proves that they were brought from 

 no great distance by the inundation ; that they were found by 

 it in the places where they are disinterred ; and that the ani- 

 mals to which they belonged must have existed in those places. 

 In a few instances, as we have seen, the skeletons were disco- 

 vered perfect, and even invested with the softer parts, which 

 proves the suddenness with which, in those instances, they 

 were overwhelmed. 



Previously to the catastrophe in question these animals, then, 

 lived in the climates where their bones are disinterred. This 

 catastrophe covered with new strata the bones which it found 

 scattered on the surface of the soil. It destroyed and buried 

 the individuals which it found existing ; and as the same species 

 are no longer any where observed, it follows, as a necessary con- 

 sequence, that their races were totally annihilated. 



Species of genera peculiar to the torrid zone, existed once in 

 the northern climates ; but it by no means follows, that the 

 species now existing in the torrid zone descended from these 

 ancient animals, gradually or suddenly transported towards 



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