fying of strata was most frequently capable of being effected by a view of the fossils which they contained.

These observations on the fossils yielded by the different strata formed the basis of Mr. SMITH's most useful and excellent map of this island, in which the nature of the stratification of England and Wales is carefully laid down. To verify the information offered in this work of immense labour, Mr. Smith, in consequence of pecuniary assistance derived from the government of this country, has deposited in the BRITISH MUSEUM the several specimens which he considers as peculiar to and characteristic of the different strata, and has placed them there in the order of stratification in which they were found.

In further illustration of the principle which he has taught, and to diffuse more generally the facts on which his opinions are established, he has published A Stratigraphical System of Organized Fossils;' as well as several numbers of a work entitled Strata identified by Organized Fossils,' in which the fossils are displayed on paper so coloured as to designate the peculiar nature of the stratum in which each fossil had been found.

Mr. PARKINSON having followed the track which had been pointed out by Mr. Smith, and having made numerous additions to the facts which Mr. Smith had been so successful in establishing, concludes his work on Organic Remains with the following observations.

Supposing the creation to have been performed in the order related in Genesis, and at particular periods, as is there stated, it becomes only necessary to

consider these periods as occurring at considerable indefinite lengths of time, to prove an exact agreement between that particular history and those phenomena which appear on examining the stratification of the earth. But quitting conjecture, I shall conclude with placing before you a recapitulation of the more important of those phenomena, which seem to demand more particular attention.

I. The outer part of this globe, examined to as great a depth as circumstances have permitted, appears to be formed of numerous, strata differing from each other in their composition, many of them containing remains of organized bodies, and all of them appearing to have been formed by deposition from

water.

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II. These strata, which appear once to have been continuous, have been broken through their whole depth, and so dislocated, that some masses of the lower strata now form considerable elevations on the surface, and in many of these the superior strata are carried away.

III. Coal and traces of vegetables, with some particular marine animals, are found in the lowest strata that have been yet examined. In the other strata, up to the surface, the remains of the inhabitants of the water only are met with. Near to, and on the surface, only, are found the fossil remains of various land-animals; but, no where have yet been discovered any fossil remains of man.

IV. In some of the earlier strata, THE CUBROCHAL LIMESTONE, the remains of animals are found, the cap and turban encrinite, &c. ; but no similar fossils are

seen in any of the succeeding superior strata, nor are any similar animals found in our present seas.

V. Some species of fossil animals (pentacrinita) occur in the LIAS, and are not seen in any of the succeeding superior strata, but a recent similar animal is found in our present séas.

VI. Some fossil animals (ammonita) are first seen in the LIAS and appear in most of the succeeding strata, but appear to have become extinct in the ocean which deposited the hard chalk.

VII. Some fossils (belemnita) appear in the early strata, and are continued upwards to the soFT CHALK stratum, after which they are not seen.

VIII. Some fossils (oval ammonita, scaphite, &c.) are not known in the early strata, but occur in the HARD CHALK, and are not seen afterwards: as if they had been created at a comparatively late period, and had been soon afterwards suffered to become extinct.

IX. Some fossil shells (trigonite) are found in the LIAS and in MOST OF THE SUCCEEDING strata, and sometimes, but very rarely, in the hard chalk. After this they are not seen in the remaining superior strata, but of late years one species has been found in our present seas. This however requires some explanation. The trigonite are shells differing materially from any others in the structure of the hinge, and obtain therefrom the most decided generic characters. Until lately no shell of this genus was known in a recent state: one however has been found by M. Peron, in the South Seas; but this shell, although really of this genus, is of a different species from any shell which has been found in a fossil state. So that none

of the species of shells of this genus, which are known in a fossil state, have, in fact, been found in any stratum above the hard chalk, or in our present seas.

X. In the SAND and in the BLUE CLAY above the chalk, many species of shells occur, of which not one is to be seen in the preceding strata; but of which several approximate to those in the present seas.

XI. In the GRAVEL, lying on the blue clay, shells are found which differ from those of any of the preceding strata, and nearly agree with our recent shells.

XII. In these UPPER and LESS ANTIENT STRATA are found the fossil remains of land animals; and on this surface, which bears the marks of considerable torrents, are disposed, at least in this island, the present inhabitants.

Does it not appear from this repeated occurrence of new beings, from the late appearance of the remains of land animals, and from the total absence of the fossil remains of man, that the creative power, as far as respects this planet, has been exercised, continually, or at distant periods, and with increasing excellence, in its objects, to a comparatively late period-; the last and highest work appearing to be man, whose remains have not yet been numbered among the subjects of the mineral kingdom1?

Here we perceive, from the circumstances under which these fossil bodies have been found, that Mr. Parkinson has offered another hypothesis respecting the formation of the surface of the globe, and the

Organic Remains, vol. iii, p. 452-455.

creation of its several inhabitants, and which he thinks is in fair accordance with the Mosaic account.

But it must be observed that thus far he has not noticed that prominent circumstance in the Mosaic history of the first ages, the deluge. Here he seems to allow the existence of considerable difficulty; for although, he observes, that not a single decided fossil relic of man has been discovered, yet he admits that traces are every where to be found of that deluge, by which the earth, with man, was said to be destroyed. The fact, however, is,' he says, that although no remains of man are found, the surface of the earth, which is inhabited by man, displays, even at the present day, manifest and decided marks of the mechanical agency of violent currents of water. Nor is there a single stratum of all those which have been mentioned which does not exhibit undeniable proofs of its having been broken, and even dislocated, by some tremendous power, which has acted with considerable violence on this planet, since the deposition of the strata of even the latest formation.'-(Organic Remains, vol. iii, p. 451.)