OTafiations, on the actual surface* of Geology. Several kinds of 
of the earth: remembering that mountains are omitted; the Tabu- 
springs are' also volcanoes. lar, Kidged, Peaked, Circular, 
H. These ten series of organic j Branched, Hollow, Knobby, Slo» 
formation are not perfect nor com-' ping, &c. are as many different 
plete: : even those of Cuvier arejforms: Fragments or boulders, 
yet deficient, because America, Af- debris, gravel, and sand ought per- 
rica and Asia are not taken into haps to form a peculiar series: the 
account I mean soon to give our Clysmian of Brongniart 
American series. The oldest se- 
ties with us is Limy, and holds 
Porostomes and Tethytes,T erebra- 
tulites, IVladreporites, Tribolites. 
I. This Cu bocal Limestone, is 
perhaps our oldest stratum; but 
Encrinites do not distinguish it, be- 
ing found also in newer strata. 
The worthy Hibbert has only sta- 
ted there his own European knowl- 
edge; Our successions of strata 
in N. America are quite different; 
we have no chalk, our Gypsum 
has no animals. Our organic strata 
appear to be quite different from 
Europe in mineral characters, and 
species of fossils; although equi- 
valent tribes and genera are found. 
But much fewer Cataclysms or 
floods than Geologists are now 
fond of inventing, are needed to 
explain all these formations. Pe- 
riodical local paroxysms or Ema- 
nations will account as well or 
better for them. 
J. This chemical table of ingre- 
dients, is novel and curious, but 1 
am sure will be found to differ in 
every country, and in each suc- 
cessive analysis. Every peculiar- 
rock has besides mineral ingredi- 
ents peculiar to itself. 
K. This methodic enumeration 
of natural parts of rocks is very 
valuable, although liable to some 
objections and omissions* Veins 
ought to follow concretions and 
the two series of masses be united. 
Although mountains may form a 
eculiar important series, their 
nowledge forms the new science 
143. American History. 
Some remarks on the Ruins of 
Ototuin near Palenque •—Bif 
C, S. Rafriesque. 
I have postponed my 3d let- 
ter on those ruins and the pro** 
bable language of the inscrip- 
tions, to wait for further de- 
tails and vocabularies from the 
explorers. There are now 3 
explorers of the ruins, Hr. Cor- 
roy of Tabasco with whom I 
have begun a correspondence 
to procure a chontal vocabula- 
ry, Mr. Waldeck a German 
painter, and Mr. Galindo, a 
native who has lately sent to 
the society of Geography of 
Paris some interesting details. 
Mr. Galindo confirms the 
extent of these w onderful ruins, 
being 7 Spanish leagues or 
about thirty English miles in 
length, Corroy and Waldeck 
Jiave already surveyed 18 pala- 
ces or large buildings, some as 
large as the Louvre in Paris* 
The houses are scattered, not 
compact, and in a deep forest 
Their form is quite peculiar, 
being like galleries with angu^ 
lar roof, and parallel with & 
yard between, which I take to 
have been the streets. The 
stones are cemented and like 
bricks, IB inches by 9 and % 
