OUTLINES OF GEOLOGY. 



39 



The caverns of Germany were celebrated before the dis- 

 covery of those of England. The most remarkable are in the 

 Hartz ; at Muggendorf in Bairenth ; in Westphalia ; and in 

 Carniola. 



On the southern slope of the Carpathian mountains, in 

 Hungary, are numerous caverns of the same description. 



Several caverns, containing bones, have recently been dis- 

 covered in France. 



But one attempt has been made to explore the caverns of 

 the United States, for bones, namely, by Mr. Feather- 

 stonhaugh, in the Helderberg. This attempt was not suc- 

 cessful. 



84. In some cases, the bones found in caverns are not im- 

 bedded in diluvium, but are found aggregated into a pudding 

 stone, by a calcareous cement. Such osseous pudding stones 

 are also found above the surface. Instances of the latter 

 sort are most frequent on the shores and islands of the 

 Mediterranean ; among these are Gibraltar, Cette, Aix, 

 Ville Frauche, Antibes, and Nice. They also occur near 

 Pisa, at Cape Palinuro, in Corsica, Sicily, and Sardinia, in 

 Dalmatia, and the island of Cerigo. 



It will appear, that the modern chemical formations, and 

 particularly those of carbonate of lime, are mingled with the 

 diluvium, in the case of caverns and osseous pudding stones. 

 Beds of diluvial gravel and sand are also often found cemented 

 by calcareous matter. Among these may be cited the marble, 

 of which the columns of the Representatives' Chamber, at 

 Washington, are built, and which is found at the junction of 

 the Monocasy with the Potomac. Ferruginous and silicious 

 concretions are also found belonging to the same order of 

 formations. 



85. In a practical point of view, the most interesting dilu- 

 vial formations are those in which the gems, gold, platina, 

 and other of the metals are found. These are sands, 



