Chalk and Flint Formation. 9 



shows itself in compound and more or less tuberose 

 shapes, the white chalky-flint crust being exhibited 

 as on the others. Larger still, the flints are found 

 in huge splashes of irregular shapes and masses ; 

 the forms in many cases having been determined by 

 their fall into the sea, or, if on land by the place on 

 to which they have come while soft, and by the 

 stones among which they have run in a fluid or 

 semi-fluid state, moulding themselves into the 

 interstices in the manner shown in some specimens 

 which I have for illustration. These portions had 

 obviously not lighted upon the soft chalk, but run 

 among hard stones. Some flints had also apparently 

 on falling, rolled down in a soft state upon a bank of 

 reddish marl, part of which they had enclosed and 

 doubled over upon ; while, at the same time, they 

 exhibit portions of the purest soft white chalk, 

 enclosed in another part of the same flint. Now if 

 the flint had been formed under water, it is impos- 

 sible that this could have occurred; because the 

 white chalk and red soil or marl could not have lain 

 in such proximity under the water, without the 

 white chalk being stained. 



These facts of themselves are at variance with the 

 idea of the flint being of marine origin ; and we 

 shall find many others which are irreconcilable with 

 that conjecture. Yet unquestionably many flints 

 exhibit incontestable records either of the sea, or of 

 the seashore, by the organic remains which they 

 contain of various sorts of Echinites, impressions of 

 shells, or imbedded corals, sponges, and objects of 

 that nature. It may be observed concerning these, 

 that the flint has not grown into these organic forms 

 by gradual chemical substitution for the matter 

 which it displaced ; but has flowed into them and 



