Structure of the Eastern Alps. 413 



new red sandstone group*. How far this fact is general, our observations do 

 not enable us to determine. 



2. Some of the primary rocks of the Bohemian chain seem to have under- 

 gone no great movement since the deposit of the cretaceous and oohtic seriesf. 



3. The Alpine limestone was solidified and had undergone great move- 

 ments of elevation before the deposition of the upper cretaceous system, and 

 of the intermediate groups between the secondary and tertiary series. This 

 is proved by the position of the overlying beds of Gosau, and by the con- 

 glomerates separating them from the older secondary groups. We may add, 

 that the existence of vegetable fossils in the overlying beds proves them to 

 have been deposited after a part of the chain had risen above the sea. 



4. That a portion of the Alpine chain was, at a comparatively ancient 

 period, above tiie level of the sea, is further proved by the existence of beds 

 of lignite both in the secondary and older tertiary groups. The position and 

 fossils of some of these strata show how much the physical form and vegeta- 

 tion of the Alps must have been changed since the period when these lignites 

 were deposited. 



5. The eastern extremity of the chain was elevated after the period of the 

 fucoid shales, and also after that of the overlying groups (of the Wand, &c.) 

 between the secondary and tertiary series;];, but hejorc the existence of the 

 neighbouring tertiary deposits. We may here observe, that the deposition of 

 the lowest horizontal beds of the Styrian basin probably commenced imme- 

 diately after this elevation ; on which account, as well as for reasons already 

 stated, we are disposed to give them a lower place in the tertiary scale than 

 has generally been assigned to them. 



G. A portion of the Bavarian Alps was elevated since the period of the 

 molasse of Switzerland, and of the marls and conglomerates by which it is 

 overlaid§. This is the last epoch of elevation here considered; and it seems 

 to correspond to the ninth revolution described in the researches of M. de 

 Beaumont, wliich includes the chain of the Eastern AIps||. 



Whatever may have been the causes of this last elevation, they seem to 

 have acted with diminished intensity in their continuation towards the east. 

 The newer tertiary marls, sands, and conglomerates, seem to have been 

 formed in a mediterranean sea, which once washed the northern flanks of the 

 Alps, and must, at the time of their formation, have been all nearly at the 



* Supra, p. 306. ; also Phil. Mag. and Annals, New Series, vol. viii. PI. II. fig. 3. 



t Supra, p. 380. + See Chap. III. pp. 364, 367. 



§ Supra, pp. 324, 329. 



II See Recherchcs sur quelques-unes des Revolutions de la Surface du Globe, p. 156, 31 1 , kc. 



