86 



THE WONDERS OF GEOLOGY. Lect. I. 



In the lakes of Forfarshire, in Scotland,* fresh -water 

 limestone, containing recent shells and aquatic plants, is 

 in progress of formation. In the specimens before us, 

 which were collected by Mr. Lyell, are various species 

 of fresh-water shells, and masses of that common lacus- 

 trine plant, the Char a wedicaginula, beautifully preserved ; 

 even the minute seed-vessels of the chara are converted 

 into stone, in precisely the same manner as those in the 

 ancient fresh- water tertiary limestones. f Here then is an 

 example of the formation of a modern lacustrine rock ; 

 while, in the recent limestones of Bermuda, we have proof 

 that the sea is at this time forming shelly and coralline 

 rocks, analogous to many of the ancient secondary strata. 



43. Fossil human skeletons. — Similar aggregations 

 are in progress along the shores of the whole West Indian 

 Archipelago ; and in St. Domingo they have greatly ex- 

 tended the plain of Cayes, where accumulations of con- 

 glomerate occur, and in which, at the depth of twenty 

 feet, fragments of ancient pottery have been discovered. 



a b 



Lign. 10. — Plan of the cliffs at Guadalocpe. 



A, Ancient rocks ; B, recent limestone, in which human skeletons are found 



imbedded. 



On the north-east coast of the main land of Guadaloupe, 



* Geological Transactions, vol. i. p. 73, new series, 

 f See Geological Excursions round the Isle of Wight, p. 109; 

 Medals of Creation, vol. i. p. 188. 



