12 



ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



destroyed. On the contrary every thing indicates a former state of tranquillity, 

 during which various deposits were accumulating near the then existing coasts, 

 in the same manner, as we may suppose others are at this day in progress. The 

 only physical change, which we know has taken place, since the existence of 

 these ancient mammalia, has been a small and gradual rising of the continent ; but 

 it is difficult to believe, that this alone could have so greatly modified the cli- 

 mate, as to have been the cause of the utter extermination of so many animals. 

 Mr. Owen will mention the exact locality where the remains of each quadruped 

 were discovered; and, at the conclusion, it will be easy to specify by name those, 

 which, from being embedded in the same deposit, are known formerly to have co- 



r 



existed on the continent of South America. 





