34 
SCENERY OF SWITZERLAND. 
Seams of coal occur throughout the Mollasse; 
they are, however, not of any considerable extent, 
nor of good quality, and are generally very thin, not 
exceeding two feet, and rarely more than a few 
inches. 
The character of the Mollasse in fact differs 
greatly in different localities, which no doubt indicates 
varying conditions of deposit, rather than difference 
of age. T.he beds are more compact towards the 
south and become looser in texture, more sandy and 
marly, as they approach the Jura. 
Fossils are rare in the Lower Freshwater Mollasse. 
Still there are some places in which they occur. The 
Nagelflue is almost without fossils. 
In the Marine Mollasse several hundred species 
have been determined, mostly marine shells. Re- 
mains of land animals occur, however, in the fresh- 
watei beds, including a Mastodon, two species of 
Rhinoceros, the Dinotherium, etc. 
The Upper Freshwater Mollasse is much richer, 
and contains the celebrated locality of Oeningen, 
neai the Lake of Constance, where, in strata evidently 
deposited in a shallow and quiet lake, have been 
found the remains, beautifully preserved, of no less 
than looo species of insects, about 400 plants, and 
many vertebrates. 
