62 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
covered by the alluvial, and bounded by tbe sea on the east side^ 
on tbe west side it is covered by tbe considerable transition for- 
mation, wbicb is followed by a still more extensive secondai-y 
formation all of wbicb run in a regular line of continuity. Eu- 
rope, on tbe contrary, is formed of five or six cbains of moun- 
tains, all following different lines of stratification, and frequently 
interrupting eacb otber; wbicb increases tbe difficulty of ar- 
ranging tbem in groups, and augments tbe apparent confusion, 
Tbe difference between tbe ranges of mountains in Europe 
and Nortb America appears to be mucb greater as respects tbe 
accidental and subsequent cbanges, tban in tbe original order 
and arrangement of tbeir stratification, in tbe relative situation 
wbereof tbey frequently agree. On tbe edge of tbe secondary, 
not far distant from tbe transition, bave been found tbe most 
productive salt-sprmgs yet discovered in Nortb America, running 
nearly nortb-east from Pigeon's river in tbe State of Tennessee, 
to lake Onondaga : and in tbe same direction of tbe stratifica- 
tion, gypsum bas been discovered. Tbis situation of salt and 
gypsum corresponds witb tbat of tbe salt mines of Cracow in 
Poland, wbicb, witb some otbers in tbe same country, are found 
on tbe edge of tbe secondary, almost toucbing tbe great transi- 
tion formation, wbicb covers tbe nortb side of tbe Carpatbian 
mountains. 
Tbe country round tbe Baltic, bounded by a line running 
easterly to tbe Hartz, tbrougb Silesia, along tbe Cai-patbian 
mountains to tbe Crimea, and nortb by St. Peter sburgb, in- 
cluding Denmark, part of Russia, Prussia, Poland, Finland, 
Sweden and Norway, is similar to tbe east side of tbe river Mis- 
sippi in Nortb America, inasmucb as it contains little or none 
of tbe basalt or newest floetz-trap formations, and very few warm 
springs, in proportion to tbe extent of surface, bave yet been 
found in tbe countries above-mentioned, tbougb on tbe soutb 
side of tbat line in Hungary and Bobemia, tbe floetz trap for- 
mation and bot springs are frequent ; and in crossing tbe Stony 
