NOTES AND QUERIES. 



451 



perusal of geological mitin^s as a principal mode of obtaining a knowledge of 

 this science, I appreliend that you consider my observations somewhat 

 "bookish," to use a term sanctioned by Locke. As to the supposed difficulty 

 how rapidly ])recipitated rocks should contain myriads of organic remains, I 

 never asserted that this need be supposed. The stratified rocks may have been 

 very rapidly formed, after which the earth may have undergone such revolutions 

 as to account for the various periods supposed, consequent upon the presence 

 of certain fossils and remains, and the individual appearance of these in various 

 strata. This would embrace the first five verses of the Mosaic narrative, and, 

 geologically, the so termed pre-adamite periods. There is no occasion to 

 imagine the first five and following verses of the Mosaic narrative as describing 

 events immediately consecutive, as other writers have observed ; and it is 

 probable that the harmony of the two records renders tliis necessary, in- 

 asmuch as the conjecturable events of the Deluge caimot be supposed to 

 account for the fact of certain fossils and remains being exclusively found in 

 certain strata. 



I tliink that you will now consider my former observations less unfavourably 

 than before. They certainly did want some explanation, which I have now en- 

 deavoured to furnish. There is certainly nothing, even in the humblest truths 

 of geology, to excite merriment ; nevertheless, absurd conclusions with regard 

 to this or any science deserve no more. — I. A. Davies. — We print Mr. Davies 

 remarks in fuU, but without comment, having laid down a rigid rule, from 

 which in no case shall we depart, namely, of not entering into any controversial 

 communications. We abide by our former remarks. 



The Pre-Adamite Ages. — Sir, — I believe that geologists have not yet 

 decided how many distmct revolutions of animal existence the earth had seen 

 prior to the era of man. Now, inasmuch as we camiot say how many and 

 what species of strata were simultaneously uppermost, I do not see how this 

 question can be decided. The various fossils found in the three great series of 

 rocks cannot, in my opinion, decide the point, inasmuch as the various strata 

 uppermost at various times remain unknown. And as an inquiry analogous to, 

 and perhaps somewhat connected with this, the supposed knowledge of rocks 

 beyond the range of our experience should be noticed. We cannot, from the 

 nature of the case, say positively ho^ rocks unseen by human eye are situated 

 with respect to one another, for which reason I cannot make much of the 

 various theoretical sections of the earth's crust which geologists sometimes 

 fi'ame, and with which they, in my opinion, more mystify than enlighten their 

 readers. It is true that we majy make probable conjectures concerning these 

 matters, but absolute certainty is out of the question, until direct evidence has 

 been obtained ; wliich of coui'se can never be the case. Yet we may be more 

 certain with regard to other phenomena of unseen rocks. Granite, or the 

 granites, for example, may, from their obvious quantity, perhaps according to 

 appearance exceeding that of any other rock, and their possessing certain 

 chemical and, especially as regards durability, mechanical principles, be regarded 

 as the oldest and lowest rocks, forming the inner side of the earth's crust; 

 and being, consequently, in direct connection with the matter of volcanos. — 

 I. A. Davies. — There is no reason to suppose that there have been any given 

 number of distinct revolutions of animal existence ; the changes have been 

 gradual and successive, without any general and total break. The arbitrary 

 divisions for scientific grouping must not be mistaken for real gaps in the order 

 of nature. 



OiiiGiN OF THE Metamorphic Rocks. — SiR, — I tliiiik that the difficulty 

 respecting the origin of these rocks is considerably reduced upon the adoption 

 of an hypothesis, made use of by Dr. Lardiior, respecting their gradual precipi- 

 tation upon those of an igneous nature. By this it stands to reason that they 



