R. JAMESON.

College of Edinburgh,
19th April 1817.

CONTENTS.

Page
Preliminary Observations,[1]
Plan of the Essay,[4]
First Appearance of the Earth,[6]
First Proofs of Revolutions on the Surface of the Globe,[6]
Proofs that such Revolutions have been numerous,[10]
Proofs that these Revolutions have been sudden,[14]
Proofs of the Occurrence of Revolutions before the Existence of Living Beings,[16]
Examination of the Causes which act at present on the Surface of the Globe,[23]
Of Slips, or Falling Down of the Materials of Mountains,[25]
Of Alluvial Formations,[26]
Of the Formation of Downs,[28]
Of the Formation of Cliffs, or Steep Shores,[29]
Depositions formed in Water,[30]
Of Stalactites,[31]
Of Lithophytes,[32]
Of Incrustations,[32]
Of Volcanoes,[34]
Constant Astronomical Causes,[36]
Older Systems of Geologists,[38]
More Recent Systems,[41]
Diversities of all the Systems,[44]
Causes of these Differences,[46]
Nature and Condition of the Problem,[46]
Progress of Mineral Geology,[49]
Importance of Fossil Remains in Geology,[51]
High importance of the Fossil Bones of Quadrupeds,[53]
Small probability of discovering new Species of large Quadrupeds,[56]
Inquiry respecting the Fabulous Animals of the Ancients,[69]
Difficulty of determining the Fossil Bones of Quadrupeds,[82]
Principle by which this determination is effected,[83]
View of the general Results of these Researches,[94]
Relations of the Species of Fossil Animals, with the Strata in which they are found,[95]
Proofs that the extinct Species of Quadrupeds are not Varieties of the presently existing Species,[102]
Proofs that there are no Fossil Human Bones,[114]
Physical Proofs of the Newness of the present Continents,[121]
Additions of Land by the action of Rivers,[123]
Progress of Downs,[133]
Peat-mosses and Slips,[135]
The History of Nations confirms the Newness of the Continents,[137]
The very remote Antiquity attributed to certain Nations is not supported by History,[149]
The Astronomical Monuments left by the Ancients do not bear the excessively remote Dates which have been attributed to them,[201]
Table of the Extent of the Zodiacal Constellations, as they are designed upon our Globes, and of the Times required by the Colures to traverse them,[212]
Construction and Use of the Table,[216]
The Zodiac is far from bearing in itself a certain and excessively remote date,[230]
Exaggerations relative to the Antiquity of certain Mining Operations,[238]
General Conclusion relative to the Period of the last Revolution,[239]
Further Researches to be made in Geology,[240]
Recapitulation of the Observations upon the Succession of the Tertiary Formations,[243]
Table of Geological Formations in the Order of their Superposition; by M. A. de Humboldt,[249]
Enumeration of the Fossil Animals recognized by the Author,[253]
Ichthyosaurus,[255]
Plesiosaurus,[256]
Crocodile,[258]
Megalosaurus,[259]
Pterodactylus,[261]
Iguanodon,[263]
Mosasaurus,[264]
Dolphin,ib.
Lamantin,[265]
Morse,[265]
Palæotherium,[266]
Lophiodon,[268]
Anoplotherium,[270]
Anthracotheria,[272]
Cheropotamus,ib.
Adapis,[273]
Vespertilio,[274]
Ziphius,[280]
Mammoth,[280]
Mastodon,[281]
Hippopotamus,[283]
Rhinoceros,ib.
Elasmotherium,[285]
Horse,[285]
Fossil Elk,[286]
Megatherium,[289]
Megalonyx,[290]
Bear,[291]
Man,[294]

APPENDIX.