§ 56. BAY OF NAPLES. 11 1 



elevate the newly-formed deposits above their former level; 

 — thus the bottom of an ocean may become a continent. 

 The whole expansion, however, resulting from the altered 

 circumstances, may not take place until long after the filling 

 up of the sea ; in which case its conversion into drv land 

 will result partly from the accumulation of detritus, and 

 partly from the elevation of the bottom. As the heat now 

 penetrates the newly-formed strata, a different action mav 

 be induced, the beds of clay or sand may become consoli- 

 dated, and instead of expanding, may contract. In this case, 

 either large depressions will occur within the limits of the 

 new continent, or after another interval, the new land may 

 again subside, and form a shallow sea. This sea may be 

 again filled up by a repetition of the same processes as before; 

 — and thus alternations of marine and fresh-water deposits 

 may occur, having interposed between them the productions 

 of the dry land.* 



To review the physical changes which have taken place 

 around the Bay of Naples would prove highly interest- 

 ing, but my limits will only permit me to observe, that 

 whole mountains have been elevated on the one hand, and 

 temples and palaces submerged beneath the sea on the 

 other. In our sister island we have evidence of former 

 changes of a like nature, and which are alluded to by our 

 inimitable lyric poet, in the following beautiful lines: — 



" On Lough Xeagh's banks as the fisherman strays. 

 When the clear cold eve's declining-. 

 He sees the round towers of other days 

 In the wave beneath him shininsr ! 



warmth ; the fl<ro -.t wards being obstructed, and the surface 



of congelation removed tc je from the body by the heat thereby 



accumulated beneath the new covering. 



* Proceedings of the Geological Society, March 1S34. 



