Essay on the Theory of the Earth

baron Georges Cuvier

PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION.

ADVERTISEMENT TO FOURTH EDITION.

PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

CONTENTS.

GEOLOGICAL ILLUSTRATIONS

LIST OF PLATES.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

Plan of this Essay.

First Appearance of the Earth.

First proofs of Revolutions on the surface of the Globe.

Proofs that such revolutions have been numerous.

Proofs that these Revolutions have been sudden.

Proofs that there have been Revolutions anterior to the existence of living beings.

Examination of the Causes which act at present on the surface of the Globe.

Of Slips, or Falling down of the Materials of Mountains.

Alluvial Formations [8] .

Formation of Downs. [9]

Formation of Cliffs or Steep Shores.

Depositions formed in Water.

Constant Astronomical Causes.

Older Systems of Geologists.

More recent Systems.

Diversities of all the Systems.

Causes of these differences.

Nature and Conditions of the Problem.

Reason for which the Conditions of the Problem have been neglected.

Progress of Mineral Geology.

Importance of Fossil Remains in Geology.

High importance of the Fossil Bones of Quadrupeds.

Small probability of discovering New Species of large Quadrupeds.

Inquiry respecting the Fabulous Animals of the Ancients.

Difficulty of determining the Fossil Bones of Quadrupeds.

Principle by which this determination is effected.

View of the General Results of these Researches.

Relations of the Species of Fossil Animals with the Strata in which they are found.

Proofs that the Extinct Species of Quadrupeds are not varieties of the presently existing Species.

Proofs that there are no Fossil Human Bones.

Physical Proofs of the Newness of the Present Continents.

Additions of Land by the Action of Rivers.

Progress of the Downs.

Peat-Mosses and Slips.

The History of Nations confirms the Newness of the Continents.

The very remote Antiquity attributed to certain Nations is not supported by History.

The Astronomical Monuments left by the Ancients do not bear the

Construction and Use of the Table.

The Zodiac is far from bearing in itself a certain and excessively remote date.

Exaggerations relative to the Antiquity of certain Mining Operations.

General Conclusion relative to the Period of the last Revolution.

Further Researches to be made in Geology.

Recapitulation of the Observations upon the Succession of the Tertiary Formations.

Enumeration of the Fossil Animals recognised by the Author.

APPENDIX.

GEOLOGICAL ILLUSTRATIONS, (2)

FOOTNOTES:

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been placed at the end of the book.

The cover image, with the title and author superimposed on the original cover, was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book.

original cover

ESSAY

ON THE

THEORY OF THE EARTH.

FRONTISPIECE

Frontispiece

Page 518 W. H. Lizars Sc.
VERTICAL SECTION OF THE CAVERN AT GAYLENREUTH IN FRANCONIA

ESSAY

ON THE

THEORY OF THE EARTH.

By BARON G. CUVIER,

PERPETUAL SECRETARY OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE, PROFESSOR AND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY,
&c. &c.

WITH

GEOLOGICAL ILLUSTRATIONS,

PROFESSOR JAMESON.

FIFTH EDITION,

TRANSLATED FROM THE LAST FRENCH EDITION, WITH NUMEROUS ADDITIONS BY THE AUTHOR AND TRANSLATOR.

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH; AND

T. CADELL, STRAND, LONDON.

MDCCCXXVII.

Printed by P. Neill.

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