THE MOUNTAINS OF SWITZERLAND. 
8 I 
CHAPTER III. 
THE MOUNTAINS OF SWITZERLAND. 
Erst dann haben wir ein Gebirge erkanut, wenn sein Inneres 
durclisichtig wie Glas vor unserem geistigen Auge ersclieint. 
Theobald. 
We do not really know a mountain until its interior is to 
our mental eye as clear as crystal. 
The Swiss mountains, as indicated in the preced- 
ing chapter, are now considered to be due, not to 
upheaval from below, but to lateral pressure. 
This acted from the south-east to north-west, and 
took place at a comparatively recent period, mainly 
however after the end of the Eocene period. There 
are good grounds for supposing that a former range 
occupied the site of the present Alps at an early 
period, and the Carboniferous strata show consider- 
able folds (Fig. 22), over which the Permian and 
more recent strata were deposited. 
The Carboniferous Puddingstone of Valorsine, 
which contains well-rounded pebbles and boulders, 
shows that there must have been mountains and 
Scenery of Switzerland. I. 
6 
