CONTENTS. 



PART I. 

 PRINCIPLES OF PALEONTOLOGY. 



INTRODUCTION. 



PAGE 



The general objects of geological science— The older theories of 

 catastrophistic and intermittent action — The more modem doc- 

 trines of continuous and uniform action — Bearing of these doc- 

 trines respectively on the origin of the existing terrestrial order — 

 Elements of truth in Catastrophism — General truth of the doc- 

 trine of Continuity — Geological time, .... i-io 



CHAPTER I. 



Definition of Palaeontology — Nature of Fossils— Different processes 



of fossilisation, 10-14 



CHAPTER II. 



Aqueous and igneous rocks — General characters of the sedimentary 

 rocks — Mode of formation of the sedimentary rocks — Definition 

 of the term "formation " — Chief divisions of the aqueous rocks 

 - — Mechanically- formed rocks, their characters and mode of origin 

 — Chemically and organically formed rocks — Calcareous rocks — 

 Chalk, its microscopic structure and mode of formation — Lime- 

 stone, varieties, structure, and origin — Phosphate of lime— Con- 

 cretions — Sulphate of lime — Silica and siliceous deposits of vari- 

 ous kinds — Greensands — Red clays — Carbon and carbonaceous 

 deposits, 14-36 



CHAPTER III. 



Chronological succession of the fossiliferous rocks — Tests of age of 

 strata — Value of Palseontological evidence in stratigraphical Geo- 

 logy — General sequence of the great formations, , . 37-44 



