CONCHO LOGY. 



The interest with which we examine such objects in- 

 crease greatly, especially when we endeavour to search 

 the causes which has given rise to them; for we perceive 

 plainly that the knowledge of fossils teaches us that the 

 sea has (for a long time at least) sojourned upon parts 

 of the glob?, which are now elevated above the level of 

 the sea, joining this to the other facts we find that they 

 are retired now from the places formerly occupied, thus 

 yielding to some slow but eifectual cause, and from con- 

 tinuity of this cause, it is probable certain parts of the 

 earth now known, will become hereafter in the lapse of 

 time a basin for the sea, as these have already been, and 

 so onwards, the present basin of the sea will find itself 

 in some future age converted to a dry uncovered continent. 



But we do not end here; the knowledge of fossils, 

 by the different important facts which it presents will become 

 the index of a perpetual change, although it is true, an 

 infinitely slow one, which operating in all the climates, 

 will relatively change all the surface of the globe. 



Furthermore, amongst the fossil remains of animated 

 nature found in Europe, there is evident proof, that these 

 bodies could not have existed long in a climate such as 

 that where they are now found. 



The shells, of which the similitudes do not exist in 

 our seas, but in the hotter climates, make up part of 

 those found in our fossil mines. Thus the Nautilus Pom- 

 pilius is found at Courtagnon and Gregnon which is one 

 proof, and this is not the only one, the Rostellaria Fissu- 

 rella is said to be found recent in the Eastern seas, (vide 

 Martini) the Pes Pelicani also, and the Turbo Clathrus 

 are reported (although upon a vague rumour) to be found 

 in both the fossil and recent states, the Cypraea Sulcosa 



