animal had the power of raising or sinking itself ure, probably by drawing in or throwing out a that element. Such were the many-chambered es already described and figured, the Nautilus, the ites, and the Orthoceratites.

e coast of England, in places where the current wift as to remove deep channels in the regular nd where rocky masses are often precipitated into there still live fragile shells and tender zoophytes, and sponges,) in abundance, and in the midst of olent movements.*

-e is, therefore, we conceive, no difficulty in supthat shells might have been swept into beds from listances, and still retain their finest lines and t angles. Those which we find on beaches, where ve been constantly exposed to the friction of the y the motion of the surf, bear no analogy of circes to those which remain in deep water.

number of shells created. Under the hypothesis, secondary limestone has originated from living ex5, and has been formed within a few thousand years, st believe that vast numbers of these tribes were lly created, and that they have multiplied with great

n respect to the number created, we are bound to that it was peculiarly great, from the terms of the , for in no other instances is the same language ed. "Let the waters bring forth abundantly the g creature," are the words of the command; and Ill see, in this case, a coincidence between the Scripnd the facts of geology and natural science, not beoticed.

he terms of the command were general, ("Let the bring forth,") so must have been the effect; and we erefore bound to believe, that this creation was not ed to particular portions of the sea, but that the in all parts of the earth brought forth an abundance ng creatures, and we need not stop to show that are included in this creation.

Rapid progress of Conchology. There is reason to be-
ve, that no department of nature is so abundantly sup-
ied with species and varieties, as Conchology. It is true
at there are at present, more known species of plants
an of shells, but the facility of collecting the former, to-
ther with the connexion which botany has with medi-
ne and domestic economy, makes it the more interesting
d important science. Yet, it is believed that the com-
rative number of new species of shells, recently discov-
ed, have been much greater than those of plants.
Perhaps some judgment may be formed of the pro-
ess of conchology, and the vast number of species
hich probably still remain to be discovered, by compar-
g the system of Linnæus with that of Lamarck.
rmer naturalist describes only thirty-six genera of shells,
hile the latter has determined and described two hun-
ed and fifty genera; and many new species have been
scovered within the few years since the last work was
ritten. Hence we may infer, that conchology is only in
= infancy, at least with respect to the number of species
hown, and that it is probable, thousands of species, if not
genera, still remain to be discovered in this department

nature.

The

The number of known species belonging to some of the innæan genera are already very numerous, and new ones e almost every day accumulating. Of the genus Conus, r. Mawe names 170 species, and of the genus Voluta 00 species, and of each of these, there are numerous vaties.*

The subject of fossil conchology has still more recently tracted the attention of naturalists, but when we come examine the catalogues of extinct species, which have ready been determined, and consider that these have -en discovered in those few places on the earth, where cavations have been made, chiefly for economical purses, we cannot avoid being struck with an idea of the st multitude of these species which the earth contains, e most of which still remain unknown.

Of the genus Ammonites, there have been determined ad named 159 species, not one of which are now sup

posed to seventy bratula,

of both In th

liscover ahells, a

the Par

ed to 12 more m

Now have on which pared e

we reme

have be

than th oceans, t explore with tha not but the seal

eye of Fro tain ha propri with r since time, and th ing.

It h mate,"

much shells tion t

is als in h muc

* Mawe's Conchology, p. 87—105

*I

gani

Ly

be in the living state. Of the genus Cerithium, ossil species are known, and of the genus Terefifty species have been determined, and catalogues given.†

è oolitic limestone alone, there has been already ed and described, not less than 1000 species of great proportion of which occur in England.‡ In s basin, the species long since enumeratad, amount00, and an equal number have been found in the odern formations of the subapennine hills.§ , when it is considered that these investigations ly just commenced, and that the parts of the earth have been examined are mere points, when comven with the secondary portions of the whole; when ember, also, that most of the recent species known, en picked up along the shores rather by accident rough any scientific design; and that the wide the distant reefs, and the deep waters, are still und-and when we compare these circumstances at of the number of shells already known, we canconclude, that there must be in the earth, and in - thousands, perhaps millions, of species, which the man has never yet seen.

n this vast number of species which it is thus cerve existed, or do still exist, we are led to see the ety of the peculiar language which Moses employs espect to the first act of the fifth day's creation; for ll these species were commanded into being at that he term abundantly, as applied to these animals, ese exclusively, has a literal and appropriate mean

as been shown under the article, "Change of Clithat the temperature of the earth was formerly greater than at present, and it is well known that of the same tribes increase in size, in some proporo the heat of the climate where they are found. It a general law, that animals multiply most rapidly climates. It may, therefore, be fairly inferred, that larger quantities of organic limestone would have

La Beche, Manual, p. 364. + See Parkinson's Fossil OrRemains. De La Beche's Catalogue, Manual, p. 323-369.

1

n formed during the same period, anciently, than at sent. But who knows what beds of this rock are now ming in the depths of the oceans, and who will know il they are elevated for the inspection of geologists?

Conclusions from the above facts. From all the facts
I circumstances thus stated, may we not draw the fol-
wing inferences.

First. That testaceous animals were originally created
great abundance, and in every part of the sea.
Second. That these animals increased much more rap-
y under the ardent heat of the ancient world, and attain-
much larger sizes than at present.

Third. That beds of shells were formed by the cur-
ts of the sea, and not by their accumulation upon each
er, by natural increase."

These inferences being admitted, may we not conclude, t it is possible all the shell limestone which is known exist, might have been formed by constant accumulais within the period of the nearly 2000 years which re elapsed between the creation and the deluge.

Secondary limestone not always formed of shells. It is necessary, we should suppose, that all secondary limene has been formed of shells, for we find that this pros is constantly going on at the present day, by means of ter containing carbonaceous particles. It has already en stated that the waters of San Filippo formed strata solid carbonate of lime at the rate of thirty feet in twenty ars, and which, therefore, during the period above ned, supposing the same process to continue, would m a mass of limestone 3000 feet thick, which would exd any known limestone formation in depth. In various er places, similar depositions are forming.

It has also been stated in the preceding volume, that nestone, containing shells, is now constantly accumulag at the delta of the Rhone, in the Mediterranean. rge masses are continually taken up from that place, of naceous rocks, cemented by calcareous matter, including ltitudes of shells, of recent species. A cannon was

* Lyell's Geology, vol. i. p. 204.

also dis in crys

The

lations constar land ex 350 mi miles

breadt This, i

a mou

any no Now has be geolog

sea ha. not at a years a be the istence

are ke Wh ledge

neces

took know milli

covered and taken up at the same place, imbedded alline limestone.*

Coral islands and reefs, also exhibit vast accumu of calcareous matter, which at the present day are tly increasing. That on the coast of New Holtends in an uninterrupted course to the length of es, and with others, form a continuous line of 1000 n length, varying from twenty to sixty miles in , and is probably from 1000 to 1500 feet in depth. thrown up from the bottom of the sea, would form tain of organic limestone, of far greater extent than w known to exist on the face of the earth.† y this immense mass of organic calcareous matter en forming only since the commencement of what ists call "the present order of things," or since the s occupied its present bed, and which all agree was a very remote period, certainly not more than 6000 ago, and yet this is acknowledged by geologists to most extensive range of organic mountains in ex"It far exceeds," says Dr. Macculloch, "any that own in the extent of its range."

en such a formation is seen and known, or acknow1, to be but of comparatively recent origin, why is it sary, to suppose that other organic formations, which place in the depths of the ocean, and of which we nothing except by conjecture, should have required ons of years for their production?

e truth is, that no man can prove at what period the nt rocks were formed, by their appearance, or by eries of intrinsic circumstances attending them, nor he show, with any degree of certainty, how long a d was required for their production. All agree that rganic rocks were formed under the waters of the 1, and, therefore, that their growth was concealed from Oservation. The few analogies that can be adduced milar formations, seem to show that the lapse of y ages is not required to produce extensive calcas formations. Who knows what exists in the bottom le ocean at the present day? or what geologist will that the elevation of a few square miles of land

Lyell's Geology, p. 234.

+ See the preceding vol.

Susters of Geologu vol in 220

p. 64,