222 THE WONDERS OF GEOLOGY. L ect. III. 



fluenced by the elevation of that portion of its ancient 

 bed, which now forms the range of hills. 



In other parts of Sicily, limestone, blue marl, beds of 

 shelly calcareous breccia, and gypseous clay occur, inter- 

 mingled with volcanic products. In the Vol di Koto 

 there is a remarkable assemblage of these deposits, which 

 is thus described by Mr. Lyell : — * 



" The rising grounds of the Val di Xoto are separated from the cone 

 of Etna, and the marine strata on which it rests, by the plain of 

 Catania, which is elevated above the level of the sea, and watered by 

 the Simeto. The traveller passing from Catania to Syracuse, by way 

 of Sortina and the valley of Pentalica, may observe many deep'sections 

 of these modern formations, rising into hills from one to two thousand 

 feet in height, and entirely composed of sedimentary strata, with 

 recent shells ; these are associated with volcanic rocks. The 'whole 

 series of strata, exclusively of the volcanic products, is divisible into 

 three principal groups. 1. The uppermost, compact limestone in 

 laminated strata, with recent shells ; total thickness, from 700 to 800 

 feet. 2. Calcareous sandstone, with schistose limestone. 3. Laminated 

 marls and blue clays." 



The above groups contain shells and zoophytes of the same 

 species as those from Palermo just noticed. The large 

 scallop (Pectenjacobants), which at the present day is pro- 

 fusely strewn on the Sicilian shores, is abundant, and 

 beautifully preserved in the compact limestone ; associated 

 with immense numbers of very minute foraminifera, of 

 species that now swarm in the waters of the Mediterra- 

 nean. Leaves of plants and stems of reeds are of frequent 

 occurrence. 



The Apennines, which extend through the Italian 

 peninsula, are flanked, both on the side of the Adriatic 

 and the Mediterranean, by the Sub- Apennines, a low range 

 composed of tertiary marls, sands, and conglomerates, some 



* Principles of Geology, vol. iii. p. 383. 



