differed from its predecessor; but I shall not attempt to offer the reader such a summary in the present case, fearing that that would prove tediously long.*

A full index is given in this as in former editions, and the student will observe that all the organic remains of which there are woodcut figures in the text are printed in italics in the index.

53 HARLEY STREET, LONDON, December 20, 1864.

CHARLES LYELL.

*As it is impossible to enable the reader to recognize rocks and minerals at sight by aid of verbal descriptions or figures, he will do well to obtain a wellarranged collection of specimens, such as may be procured from Mr. Tennant (149 Strand), teacher of Mineralogy at King's College, London.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.-On the Different Classes of Rocks.

Geology defined-Successive formation of the earth's crust-Classification of rocks

according to their origin and age-Aqueous rocks-Their stratification and im

bedded fossils Volcanic rocks, with and without cones and craters-Plutonic

rocks, and their relation to the volcanic-Metamorphic rocks, and their probable

origin The term " 'Primitive,” why erroneously applied to the crystalline forma-

tions-Leading division of the work,

PAGE 1

CHAPTER II.—Aqueous Rocks―Their Composition and Forms of Stratification.

Mineral composition of strata-Arenaceous rocks-Argillaceous-Calcareous-Gyp-

sum Forms of stratification-Original horizontalityThinning out-Diagonal

arrangement-Ripple mark,

10

CHAPTER III.-Arrangement of Fossils in Strata-Freshwater and Marine.

Successive deposition indicated by fossils-Limestones formed of corals and shells

-Proofs of gradual increase of strata derived from fossils-Serpula attached to

spatangus-Wood bored by teredina-Tripoli and semi-opal formed of infusoria

-Chalk derived principally from organic bodies-Distinction of freshwater from

marine formations-Genera of freshwater and land shells-Rules for recognizing

marine testacea-Gyrogonite and chara-Freshwater fishes-Alternation of ma-

rine and freshwater deposits-Lym-Fiord,

- 21

CHAPTER IV.—Consolidation of Strata and Petrifaction of Fossils.

Chemical and mechanical deposits-Cementing together of particles-Hardening by

exposure to air-Concretionary nodules-Consolidating effects of pressure-Min-

eralization of organic remains-Impressions and casts how formed Fossil wood

-Göppert's experiments-Precipitation of stony matter most rapid where putre-

faction is going on-Source of lime in solution Silex derived from decomposi-

tion of felspar Proofs of the lapidification of some fossils soon after burial, of

others when much decayed,

33

CHAPTER V.-Elevation of Strata above the Sea-Horizontal and Inclined Stratifi-

cation.

should

be referred to

Upheaval of exten-

Why the position of marine strata, above the level of the sea,

the rising up of the land, not to the going down of the sea

sive masses of horizontal strata-Inclined and vertical stratification-Anticlinal

and synclinal lines Bent strata in east of Scotland-Theory of folding by

lateral movement-Creeps-Dip and strike-Structure of the Jura-Various

forms of outcrop Rocks broken by flexure-Inverted position of disturbed

strata-Unconformable stratification-Hutton and Playfair on the same-Frac-

tures of strata Polished surfaces-Faults-Appearance of repeated alternations

produced by them-Origin of great faults,

CHAPTER VI.-Denudation.

PAGE 44

Denudation defined-Its amount equal to the entire mass of stratified deposits in

the earth's crust-Horizontal sandstone denuded in Ross-shire-Levelled surface

of countries in which great faults occur-Coalbrook Dale-Denuding power of

the ocean during the emergence of land—Origin of valleys-Obliteration of sea-

cliffs-Inland sea-cliffs and terraces in the Morca and Sicily-Limestone pillars at

St. Mihiel, in France-in Canada-in the Bermudas,

CHAPTER VII.-Alluvium.

66

Alluvium described-Due to complicated causes-Of various ages, as shown in Au-

vergne-How distinguished from rocks in situ-Sandpipes in Chalk-Alluvial

terraces caused by oscillation in the level of land,

CHAPTER VIII.-Chronological Classification of Rocks.

79

Aqueous, plutonic, volcanic, and metamorphic rocks, considered chronologically—

Lehman's division into primitive and secondary-Werner's addition of a tran-

sition class-Neptunian theory-Hutton on igneous origin of granite-How the

name of primary was still retained for granite-The term "transition," why

faulty-The adherence to the old chronological nomenclature retarded the

progress of geology-New hypothesis intended to reconcile the igneous origin

of granite to the notion of its high antiquity-Explanation of the chronological

nomenclature adopted in this work, so far as regards primary, secondary, and

tertiary periods,

CHAPTER IX.-On the Different Ages of the Aqueous Rocks.

85

On the three principal tests of relative age-Superposition, mineral character, and

fossils-Change of mineral character and fossils in the same continuous forma-

tion-Proofs that distinct species of animals and plants have lived at successive

periods-Distinct provinces of indigenous species-Great extent of single prov-

inces-Similar laws prevailed at successive geological periods-Relative import-

ance of mineral and palæontological characters-Tests of age by included frag-

ments-Frequent absence of strata of intervening periods-Principal groups of

strata in western Europe-Tabular views of fossiliferous strata,

CHAPTER X.-Recent and Post-Pliocene Periods.

92

Recent and Post-pliocene periods-Terms defined-Formations of the Recent

period-Modern littoral deposits containing works of art near Naples-Danish

peat and shell mounds-Swiss lake-dwellings-Periods of stone, bronze, and

iron-Form of human skulls of the Recent period-Post-pliocene formations-

Coexistence of man with extinct mammalia-Higher and Lower-level Valley-

gravels-Loess or inundation mud of the Nile, Rhine, &c.-Antiquity of Post-

pliocene Lake-terraces in Switzerland-Upraised marine strata in Sardinia-

Origin of caverns-Remains of man and extinct quadrupeds in cavern deposits

-Cave of Kirkdale-Reindeer period of south of France-Australian cave-

breccias-Geographical relationship of the provinces of living vertebrata and

those of extinct Post-pliocene species-Extinct struthious birds of New Zealand

-Fluctuations of climate in Post-glacial period-Comparative longevity of

species in the mammalia and testacea-Teeth of recent and Post-pliocene mam.

malia,
PAGE 107

CHAPTER XI.-Post-pliocene Period, continued-Glacial Epoch.

Geographical distribution, form, and characters of glacial drift-Fundamental rocks,

polished, grooved, and scratched-Abrading and striating action of glaciers-

Moraines, erratic blocks, and "Roches Moutonnées"-Alpine blocks on the Jura

-Colossal size of ancient Swiss glaciers-Continental ice of Greenland-Ancient

centres of the dispersion of erratics-Transportation of drift by floating ice-

bergs-Bed of the sea furrowed and polished by the running aground of floating

ice-islands-How to distinguish glacial drift of submarine from that of terrestrial

origin,

136

CHAPTER XII.-Post-pliocene Period, continued—Glacial Epoch, concluded.

Glaciation of Scandinavia and Russia-Glaciation of Scotland-Marine shells in

Scotch glacial drift-Their Arctic character-Rarity of organic remains in

glacial deposits-Contorted strata in drift-Glaciation of Wales, England, and

Ireland-Marine shells of Moel Tryfaen-Norfolk drift-Glacial formations of

North America-How far of submarine origin-Many species of testacea and

quadrupeds survived the glacial cold-Connection of the predominance of lakes

with glacial action-Morainic lakes-Objections to the hypothesis of the erosion

of large lake-basins by ice-Conversion of valleys of denudation into lakes by

upward and downward movements-Action of ice in preventing the silting-up

of lake-basins-How the bed of a sea where icebergs have abounded may, on

emergence, afford lake-basins-General causes of change of climate-Submer-

gence of the Sahara in the Post-pliocene period a cause of Alpine cold-Meteor-

ites in drift,

-

149

CHAPTER XIII.-Classification of Tertiary Formations.-Pliocene Period.

Order of succession of sedimentary formations-Imperfection of the record-Defec-

tiveness and obscurity of the monuments greater in proportion to their antiquity

-Reasons for studying the newer groups first-General principles of classifica-

tion of tertiary strata-Detached formations scattered over Europe-Strata of

Paris and London-More modern groups-Peculiar difficulties in determining the

chronology of tertiary formations-Increasing proportion of living species of

shells in strata of newer origin-Eocene, Miocene, and Pliocene terms explained

-Formations of the Newer Pliocene period-Island of Ischia-Eastern base of

Mount Etna-Newer Pliocene strata of great height and extent in Sicily-For-

mations of same age in the Upper Val d'Arno-Norwich Crag-Chillesford

beds-Bridlington beds-Older Pliocene strata-Red Crag of Suffolk-White

or coralline Crag-Successive refrigeration of climate proved by the pliocene

shells of Suffolk and Norfolk-Antwerp Crag-Subapennine strata-Aralo-Cas-

pian formations,

178

CHAPTER XIV.-Miocene Period.

Upper Miocene strata of France-Faluns of Touraine-Depth of sea and littoral

character of fauna-Tropical climate implied by the testacea-Proportion of

recent species of shells-Faluns more ancient than the Suffolk Crag-Varieties

of Voluta Lamberti peculiar to Faluns and to Suffolk Crag-The same spe-

cies are common to more than one geological Period-Lower Miocene strata

of France-Remarks on classification, and where to draw the line of separation

between Miocene and Eocene strata-Relations of the Grès de Fontainebleau to

the Faluns and to the Calcaire Grossier-Lower Miocene strata of Central

France-Lacustrine strata of Auvergne-Indusial limestone-Fossil mammalia

of the Limagne d'Auvergne-Freshwater strata of the Cantal-Its resemblance

in some places to white chalk with flints-Proofs of gradual deposition-Miocene

strata of Bordeaux and South of France-Upper Miocene strata of Gers-

Dryopithecus-Belgian and British Miocene formations-Edeghem beds near

Antwerp-Diest sands of Belgium and contemporaneous iron-sands of North

Downs-Upper Miocene beds of Belgium-Bolderberg-Lower Miocene strata

of Kleyn Spawen-Hempstead beds, Isle of Wight-Bovey Tracey Lignites

in Devonshire-Isle of Mull Leaf-beds-Miocene formations of Germany-

Mayence basin-Upper Miocene beds of Vienna basin-Lower Miocene of

Croatia-Fossil Lepidoptera-Oligocene strata of Professor Beyrich-Miocene

strata of Italy,

PAGE 212

CHAPTER XV.-Miocene Formations, continued.

Miocene Strata of Switzerland-Upper Miocene beds of Eningen-Importance of

Fossil Plants-Heer's work on the Swiss Miocene flora-Plants and insects of

Eningen imbedded in different seasons-Fossil fruits and flowers, as well as

leaves-Middle or Marine Molasse of Switzerland-Lower Molasse, or Lower

Miocene-Dense conglomerates and proofs of subsidence-Fossil plants of

Lower Miocene period more tropical-Preponderance of arborescent species-

Supposed discordance in relative numbers of living species of plants and shells

in Upper Miocene formations-Theory of a Miocene Atlantis-Whether the

American plants abounding in the Miocene of Europe migrated by a westerly

or an easterly route-Objections derived from depth and width of the Atlantic-

Arguments in favor of a Trans-Asiatic migration-Miocene fossils of Oregon-

Agreement of Miocene corals of the West Indies and Europe opposed to the

theory of an Atlantic Continent-Upper Miocene formations of India-Sub-

Himalayan or Siwâlik Hills-Older Pliocene and Miocene formations in the

United States of America, -

CHAPTER XVI.-Eocene Formations.

248

Upper Eocene strata of England-Fluvio-marine series in the Isle of Wight and

Hampshire Successive groups of Eocene mammalia-Boundary-line between

Lower Miocene and Eocene-Fossils of Barton Clay-British Middle Eocene-

Shells, nummulites, fishes, and reptiles of the Bagshot and Bracklesham beds-

Vegetation of Middle Eocene period-Lower Eocene strata of England-Fossil

plants and shells of the London Clay proper-Strata of Kyson in Suffolk-Plas-

tic clays and sands-Thanet sands-Eocene formations of France-Gypseous

series of Montmartre and extinct quadrupeds-Fossil footprints-Calcaire gros-

sier-Miliolites-Lower Eocene in France-Nummulitic formations of Europe,

Africa, and Asia -Their wide extent--Referable to the Middle Eocene period—

Eocene strata in the United States-Section at Claiborne, Alabama-Colossal

cetacean-Orbitoidal limestone-Burr stone,

CHAPTER XVII.-Cretaceous Group.

280

Lapse of time between the Cretaceous and Eocene periods-Whether certain forma-

tions in Belgium and France are of intermediate age-Pisolitic limestone-Divis-

ions of the Cretaceous series in North-Western Europe-Maestricht beds-Chalk

of Faxoe-White chalk-Its geographical extent and origin-Formed in an open

and deep sea-How far derived from shells and corals-A similar rock now in

progress in the depths of the Atlantic made up of Globigerinæ—Origin of Flint