Part 33

Chapter 332,604 wordsPublic domain

If it be remarked, that these blocks, which are sometimes very large, heaped up above one another, and mixed with clayey mud, have their angles perfectly fresh, and are of the same nature as the limestone of the walls of the cave, it cannot be admitted that they have been brought from a distance. This mode of arrangement could only have been produced by their falling from the roof of the cave.

The following facts also give support to this opinion. In the cave of Gaylenreuth, a fissure of the third grotto, was the means, in 1784, of disclosing a new one, fifteen feet long and four broad, where the greatest quantity of hyena or lion bones were found. _The aperture was much too small for these animals to have passed through it._

In a cave discovered in 1824, in the district of Lanark in Upper Canada, Mr Bigsby observed, that the floor was covered with debris of brown granular limestone, similar to that of the walls, and that the bones especially formed a heap there. He thinks that the animal, whose bones have been found in this cave, was much too large to have got into it alive or entire.--_Silliman’s Journal, June 1825_, p. 354.

It must therefore be also admitted here, either that the bones could only have got into the cave in the same manner as the heaps of blocks found in the Adelsberg cave; that is to say, by falling from the roof, or that the apertures have been closed since the period at which the animals were buried.

If it be now considered, _1st_, That the surface of the secondary limestone mountains of Carniola is covered with a layer of reddish clay; and, _2dly_, That the clayey mud of the heap in the Adelsberg cave is mineralogically the same as that which forms the floor of the cave; may it not be supposed, that the same catastrophe which produced the heaps in the cave may have, at the same time, introduced into it the reddish clayey mud of the surface, which, by extending itself over the floor of the cave, would have contributed to cover the bones that were lying there?

Moreover, may it not have been the case, that, after the caves had been inhabited by the carnivorous animals, the substances falling from above, and coming from the surface of the soil, may have carried along with the clayey mud and the bones of bears, the spoils of large herbivorous animals, which they may have met with, and which cannot be supposed to have sought refuge in these caves during life.

There will, no doubt, be objected to me, that opinion which maintains, that the bones of herbivora have been dragged into the caves by the carnivorous animals. This might certainly have been the case with regard to small species, but it is not probable that the bones of large species could have been introduced in the same manner.

Admitting as certain, at least with regard to the Adelsberg cave, that the limestone blocks and the bear bones which accompany them, have fallen from the ceiling, the phenomenon of caves containing bones would connect itself pretty well with that of osseous brecciæ in a geological point of view. As M. Cuvier observes, “The nature of the rocks which contains the one and the other is not very different; and, besides, the fissures of caves being generally pretty wide, the bones would not have stuck, but would have fallen to the bottom, while those of the osseous brecciæ being much narrower, and not so deep, would have retained the bones at no great distance from the surface of the soil.”

Thus, from the facts observed in the caves of Germany and England, and from that of the Adelsberg cave, which I have described above, we may conclude, _1st_, That the presence of bones in caves has been produced at two different periods, which, without doubt, have not been very distant from each other; the first, that when the animals inhabited these caves; the other, that when they had been transported there by a somewhat general catastrophe; _2dly_, That the second epoch was contemporaneous with the osseous brecciæ, and was produced, like them, by a phenomenon or process of filling up.

TABULAR VIEW

The GENERA of FOSSIL MAMMIFERA, CETACEA, AVES, REPTILIA, and INSECTA, exhibiting their Geognostical Number and Distribution.

+----------------+------------------------------------------+-------------+ | | Genera which are found | Number of | | | | Species. | | +------+-------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ |NAMES OF GENERA.|Living|Living,|Fossil|In the|In the|In the|In the|In the| | |only. |and in |only. |Strata|Strata|Strata|Living|Fossil| | | | the | |ante- |of the|post- |State.|State.| | | |Fossil | |rior |Chalk.|erior | | | | | |State. | |to the| |to the| | | | | | | |Chalk.| |Chalk.| | | +----------------+------+-------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | MAMMIFERA. | | | | | | | | | |Ursus, | | * | | | | * | | 4 | |Mustela, | | * | | | | * | | 2 | |Canis, | | * | | | | * | | 4 | |Hyæna, | | * | | | | * | | 1 | |Felis, | | * | | | | * | | 2 | |Phoca, | | * | | | | * | | 2 | |Didelphis, | | * | | | | * | | 2 | |Castor, | | * | | | | * | | 1 | |Arvicola, | | * | | | | * | | 2 | |Lagomys, | | * | | | | * | | 2 | |Lepus, | | * | | | | * | | 2 | |Megalonyx, | | | * | | | * | | 1 | |Megatherium, | | * | * | | | * | | 1 | |Elephas, | | * | | | | * | | | |Mastodon, | | | * | | | * | | 6 | |Hippopotamus, | | * | | | | * | | 4 | |Sus, | | * | | | | * | | 1 | |Anoplotherium, | | | * | | | * | | 2 | |Xiphodon, | | | * | | | * | | 1 | |Dichobunus, | | | * | | | * | | 3 | |Anthracotherium,| | | * | | | * | | 2 | |Adapis, | | | * | | | * | | 1 | |Chæropotamus, | | | * | | | * | | 1 | |Rhinoceros, | | * | | | | * | | 4 | |Palæotherium, | | | * | | | * | | 8 | |Lophiodon, | | | * | | | * | | 5 | +----------------+------+-------+------+------+------+------+------+------+

+----------------+------------------------------------------+-------------+ | | Genera which are found | Number of | | | | Species. | | +------+-------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ |NAMES OF GENERA.|Living|Living,|Fossil|In the|In the|In the|In the|In the| | |only. |and in |only. |Strata|Strata|Strata|Living|Fossil| | | | the | |ante- |of the|post- |State.|State.| | | |Fossil | |rior |Chalk.|erior | | | | | |State. | |to the| |to the| | | | | | | |Chalk.| |Chalk.| | | +----------------+------+-------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | MAMMIFERA.(cont.) | | | | | | | | |Tapirus, | | * | | | | * | | 1 | |Elasmotherium, | | | * | | | * | | 1 | |Equus, | | * | | | | * | | 1 | |Mus, | | * | | | | * | | 1 | |Cervus, | | * | | | | * | | 5 | |Bos, | | * | | | | * | | 4 | |Myoxus, | | * | | | | * | | 2 | | | | * | | | | | | | | CETACEA. | | | | | | | | | | |Manatus, | | * | | | | * | | 1 | |Delphinus, | | * | | | | * | | 4 | |Balæna, | | * | | | | * | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | AVES.(a) | | | | | | | | | |Sturnus, | | * | | | | * | | 1 | |Pelecanus, | | * | | | | * | | 1 | |Charadrius, | | | | | | * | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | REPTILIA. | | | | | | | | | |Testudo, | | * | | | | * | | 6 | |Crocodilus, | | * | | | * | | | 6 | |Plesiosaurus, | | | * | | | | | 1 | |Ichthyosaurus, | | | * | * | | | | 4 | |Pterodactylus, | | | * | * | | * | | 3 | |Rana, | | * | | | | * | | 1 | |Mosasaurus, | | | * | | * | | | 1 | |Salamandra, | | * | | | | * | | 1 | +----------------+------+-------+------+------+------+------+------+------+

+----------------+------------------------------------------+-------------+ | | Genera which are found | Number of | | | | Species. | | +------+-------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ |NAMES OF GENERA.|Living|Living,|Fossil|In the|In the|In the|In the|In the| | |only. |and in |only. |Strata|Strata|Strata|Living|Fossil| | | | the | |ante- |of the|post- |State.|State.| | | |Fossil | |rior |Chalk.|erior | | | | | |State. | |to the| |to the| | | | | | | |Chalk.| |Chalk.| | | +----------------+------+-------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ | INSECTA. | | | | | | | | | |Silpha,(b) | | * | | | | * | | | |Curculio,(c) | | * | | | | * | | | |Scorpio,(c) | | * | | | | * | | | |Musca,(c) | | * | | | | * | | | |Blatta,(c) | | * | | | | * | | | |Tipula,(c) | | * | | | | * | | | |Aranea,(c) | | * | | | | * | | | |Ichneumon,(c) | | * | | | | * | | | |Libellula,(d) | | * | | | | * | | | |Scarabæus,(d) | | * | | | | * | | | |Scolopendra,(d) | | * | | | | * | | | |Papilio,(d) | | * | | | | * | | | |Hemerobia,(d) | | * | | | | * | | | |Carabus,(d) | | * | | | | * | | | +----------------+------+-------+------+------+------+------+------+------+

(a) It is extremely difficult to make out the genera of the Birds, whose remains occur in a fossil state, and there are more of them than those mentioned.

(b) In the lignite; the number of species cannot be given in the insects.

(d) In the fossil rocks, according to the old authors.

TABULAR VIEW

The CLASSES, ORDERS, or FAMILIES, of ANIMALS, occurring in a Living and Fossil State, with their Geognostical Distribution.

(PART 1 of 2) +----------------+-----------------------------------------------+-------+ | | Number of Genera which are found | | | | | | | NAMES OF +------+-------+------+--------+------+---------+ Total | |CLASSES, ORDERS,|In the|Living |In the| In the |In the| In the |number | | OR FAMILIES. |living| and |Fossil| Strata |Strata| Strata | of | | |state |Fossil.|state |anterior|of the|posterior|Genera.| | |only. | |only. | to the |Chalk.| to the | | | | | | | Chalk. | | Chalk. | | +----------------+------+-------+------+--------+------+---------+-------+ |Polyparia, | 23 | 30 | 52 | 47 | 19 | 36 | 105 | |Stellaridæ, | | 4 | | | 2 | 4 | 4 | |Echinidæ, | 2 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 11 | |Annulosa, | | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |Serpulacea, | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | |Cirripeda, | 8 | 2 | | 1 | | 2 | 10 | |Tubicolæ, | 1 | 3 | 2 | | | 5 | 6 | |Pholadaria, | | 2 | | | | 2 | 2 | |Bivalve shells, | 18 | 61 | 24 | 44 | 25 | 51 | 103 | |Univalve shells,| 33 | 87 | 28 | 27 | 16 | 93 | 148 | |Genera little | | | 4 | 3 | 1 | | 4 | | known, | | | | | | | | |Crustacea, | | 21 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 28 | |Pisces, | | 54 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 55 | 60 | |Mammifera & | | 24 | 12 | | | 36 | 36 | | Cetacea, | | | | | | | | |Aves,(a) | | 3 | | | | 3 | 3 | |Reptilia, | | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | |Insecta, | | 14 | | | | 14 | 14 | |Vegetabilia, | | 14 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 24 | +----------------+------+-------+------+--------+------+---------+-------+

(PART 2 of 2) +----------------+-------------+ | | Number of | | | Species | | NAMES OF +------+------+ |CLASSES, ORDERS,|In the|In the| | OR FAMILIES. |living|fossil| | |state.|state.| | | | | | | | | +----------------+------+------+ |Polyparia, | 527 | 414 | |Stellaridæ, | 76 | 4 | |Echinidæ, | 95 | 112 | |Annulosa, | 17 | 29 | |Serpulacea, | 36 | 69 | |Cirripeda, | 50 | 17 | |Tubicolæ, | 11 | 16 | |Pholadaria, | 12 | 4 | |Bivalve shells, | 1009 | 1104 | |Univalve shells,| 1945 | 1544 | |Genera little | | 5 | | known, | | | |Crustacea, | | 54 | |Pisces, | | 183 | |Mammifera & | | 89 | | Cetacea, | | | |Aves, | | 3 | |Reptilia, | | 23 | |Insecta, | | | |Vegetabilia, | | | +----------------+------+------+

(a) The fossil remains of birds being very difficult to be recognized, the number of genera in that state is undoubtably much more considerable.

THE END.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] See Note A, at the end of this Essay.

[2] See Note B.

[3] The opinion maintained by some geologists, that certain strata have been formed in the inclined position in which they are now found, admitting it true with regard to some particular strata which might have been crystallized, as Mr Greenough supposes, like the deposit which encrusts the inside of vessels, in which water containing gypsum has been boiled, cannot at least apply to those which contain shells or rolled stones, which could not have waited, so suspended, the formation of the cement by which they were to be agglutinated.

[4] See Note C.

[5] The conjecture of the Marquis de la Place, that the materials of which the globe is composed, have perhaps existed at first in the elastic form, and have successively assumed a liquid consistence on cooling, and have at length been solidified, is well supported by the recent experiments of M. Mitscherlich, who has composed, of all sorts of substances, and crystallized by the heat of intense furnaces, several of the mineral species which enter into the composition of primitive mountains.--Note D.

[6] The Travels of Saussure and Deluc present a multitude of facts of this description. These geologists imagined, that they could only have been produced by enormous eruptions. De Buch and Escher have recently employed themselves upon this subject. The memoir of the latter, inserted in the Nouvelle Alpina of Steinmüller, vol. i. presents the general results in a remarkable manner. The following is a comprehensive view of them: Such of these blocks as are scattered over the low parts of Switzerland and Lombardy, come from the Alps, and have descended along their valleys. They occur every where, and of all sizes, up to 50,000 cubic feet, over the great extent of country which separates the Alps from the Jura mountains; and they rise upon the sides of the latter facing the Alps, to a height of 4000 feet above the level of the sea. They are found at the surface, or in the superficial layers of debris, but not in the strata of sandstone, molasse, or conglomerate, which fill up almost every where the interval in question. They are sometimes isolated, sometimes in heaps. The height of their situation is not connected with their magnitude; the smaller ones alone appear sometimes a little worn, but the large ones are not so at all. Those which belong to the basin of each river are found, upon examination, to be of the same nature as the mountains of the tops or sides of the high valleys in which the tributary streams of this river take their rise. They are already seen in these upper valleys, and are particularly accumulated at the places which are situated above some of the contractions of these valleys. They have passed over the lower hills, when their height has not been more than 4000 feet; and then they are seen upon the other side of the ridges, in the cantons between the Alps and Jura, and even upon the latter itself. It is opposite the mouths of the valleys of the Alps that they are seen in the greatest quantity, and at the greatest heights; those of the intervening spaces have not been carried so high. Among the chains of the Jura mountains, which are more remote from the Alps, they are only found in places which are opposite the openings of the nearer chains.

From these facts, the author draws the conclusion, that the transportation of these blocks has taken place at a period subsequent to the deposition of the sandstones and conglomerates, and has perhaps been occasioned by the last of the revolutions which the globe has experienced. He compares the transportation in question to that which still takes place from the agency of torrents; but the objections presented by the consideration of the great size of the blocks, and the deep valleys over which they must have passed, appear to us to militate greatly against this part of his hypothesis.--Note E.

[7] Regarding the changes of the surface of the earth, known from history or tradition, and consequently dependent on causes still in operation, see the German work of M. de Hof, entitled “Geschichte der Natürlichen Veränderungen der Erdoberfläche,” 2 vols. 8vo. Goth. 1822 and 1824. The facts contained in it are collected with equal care and erudition.

[8] Note F.

[9] Note G.

[10] Voyage aux Terres Australes, t. i. p. 161.

[11] Note H.

[12] It is a common opinion in Sweden, that the level of the sea is becoming lower, and that many places may even be forded or passed dry-shod, which were formerly impracticable. Eminent philosophers have adopted this popular opinion; and M. von Buch goes so far as to suppose that the whole of Sweden is gradually rising. But it is singular, that no one has made, or at least published, a series of accurate observations, calculated to confirm a fact that had been announced so long ago, and which would leave no doubt upon the mind, if, as Linnæus asserts, this difference of level were so much as four or five feet yearly. Note I.

[13] Mr Stevenson, in his observations upon the bed of the German Ocean and British Channel, maintains that the level of the sea is continually rising, and has been very sensibly elevated within the last three centuries. Fortis asserts the same of some parts of the Adriatic sea. But the example of the Temple of Serapis, near Pouzzola, proves that the margins of that sea are, in many places, of such a nature as to be subject to local risings and fallings. On the other hand, there are thousands of quays, roads, and other works, made along the sea-side by the Romans, from Alexandria to Belgium, the relative level of which has never varied. Note K.

[14] When I formerly mentioned this circumstance of the science of geology having become ridiculous, I only expressed a fact, to the truth of which every day bears witness; but in this I did not profess to give my own opinion, as some respectable geologists seem to have believed. If their mistake has arisen from any thing equivocal in my expressions, I here apologize to them.

[15] Burnet, Telluris Theoria Sacra. Lond. 1681.

[16] Woodward, Essay towards the Natural History of the Earth. Lond. 1702.

[17] Scheuchzer, Mém. de l’Acad. 1708.

[18] Whiston, New Theory of the Earth. Lond. 1708.

[19] Leibnitz, Protogæa. Act. Lips. 1683; Gott. 1749.

[20] Telliamed. Amsterd. 1748.

[21] Theorie de la Terre, 1749; and Epoques de la Nature, 1775.

[22] See La Physique de Rodig. p. 106, Leipsic, 1801; and Telliamed, vol. ii. p. 169, as well as a multitude of new German works. M. de Lamarck has of late years developed this system to a great extent, in France, and supported it with much ingenuity, in his Hydrogeologie and Philosophie Zoologique.

[23] M. Patrin has shewn much ingenuity in supporting these fantastical ideas, in several articles of the Nouveau Dictionnaire d’Histoire Naturelle.

[24] This application of pantheism to geology may be best seen in the works of Oken and Steffens.

[25] Delamétherie, in his “Géologie,” admits crystallization as the principal agent.

[26] Hutton and Playfair.--Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth. Edin. 1802.

[27] Lamanon,--in various parts of the Journal de Physique,--after Michaelis, and several others.

[28] Dolomieu, in the Journal de Physique.