ON THE BONES FOSSIL OF THE ELEPHANT, 319 



over Europe and the north of Asia, M. Deluc does not think that the 

 elephant inhabited all these countries at the same time, or that the 

 irruption of the sea which destroyed them was general, single, and 

 instantaneous. " For otherwise," says he, " we cannot explain the 

 circumstance of the shells, and other marine bodies which have 

 become attached to them, nor the layers of marl, sand, &c. in which 

 they are buried — phenomena which would indicate a long stay of the 

 sea." Hence he supposes that those countries were portioned out into 

 islands of varied extent, and subject to revolutions which made them 

 liable to be covered by the waters of the sea for some time. The 

 bones which are found dispersed are those of animals that died a 

 natural death upon those islands. They are sometimes found in large 

 collections, because the gradual rising of the waters had compelled 

 these animals to herd together on the high places, where they 

 perished ; or it may be that the waters, rushing with impetuosity, may 

 have carried those dispersed bones towards the low grounds. They 

 were then transported by divers means, rolled about and covered by 

 various strata, or mixed with the bones of marine animals. A more 

 general depression having furnished to the waters of the sea a newer 

 and a deeper bed, they abandoned a large part of their ancient bed, and 

 the islands which remained there became united into a single continent, 

 which is that on which fossil bones are discovered at the present day. 



Thus, according to this author, the bones have not been all buried 

 at the same time. Those to which marine bodies have adhered, or 

 which have been found accompanied by them, must be accounted 

 among those most anciently covered ; those, on the contrary, which have 

 preserved the whole or a part of their flesh, must have been the victims 

 cf the last revolutions. Nay, perhaps Mr. Adams' elephant was never 

 overwhelmed, and only perished by the sudden change of climate 

 resulting from these revolutions. 



These hypotheses, which the author acknowledges are an exposition 

 of the theories of his uncle, do not appear to me to contain any thing; 

 contrary to the general ideas which I have expressed, both in the 

 chapter on elephants, and in my preliminary discourse. 



Nevertheless, I am not of opinion that there is sufficient proof of a 

 change of climate. The elephants and rhinoceroses of Siberia were 

 covered with thick hair, and were as capable of enduring the cold as 

 as the bears and the argalis ; and the forests covering the country at 

 the very high latitudes, might furnish them with more than sufficient 

 nourishment. 



