To geologists who may glance at the following pages, I would say that, amidst much that is familiar, they will find here and there some facts which may be new to them, as well as some original suggestions and conclusions as to the relations of things, which though stated in familiar terms, I have not advanced without due consideration of a wide range of facts, To the general reader I have endeavoured to present the more important results of geological investigation divested of technical difficulties, yet with a careful regard to accuracy of statement, and in such a manner as to invite to the farther and more precise study of the subject in nature, and in works which enter into technical details. I have endeavoured as far as possible to mention the authors of important discoveries; but it is impossible in a work of this kind to quote authority for every statement, while the omission of much important matter relating to the topics discussed is also unavoidable. Shortcomings in these respects must be remedied by the reader himself, with the aid of systematic text-books. Those who may desire any farther explanation of the occasional allusions to the record of creation in Genesis, will find this in my previously published volume entitled “Archaia.”
J. W. D,
McGill College, Montreal,
January, 1873.
CONTENTS.
| PAGE | |
| [Chapter I.]—The Genesis Of The Earth. | |
| Uniformity and Progress.—Internal Heat.—Nebular Theory.—Probable Condition of the Primitive World. | [1] |
| [Chapter II.]—The Eozoic Ages. | |
| The Laurentian Rocks.—Their Character and Distribution.—The Conditions of their Deposition.—Their Metamorphism.—Eozoon Canadense.—Laurentian Vegetation. | [17] |
| [Chapter III.]—The Primordial or Cambrian Age. | |
| Connection of the Laurentian and Primordial.—Animals of the Primordial Seas.—Lingula, Trilobites, Oldhamia, etc.—The terms Cambrian and Silurian.—Statistics of Primordial Life. | [36] |
| [Chapter IV.]—The Silurian Ages. | |
| Geography of the Continental Plateaus.—Life of the Silurian.—Reign of Invertebrates.—Corals, Crinoids, Mollusks, Crustaceans.—The First Vertebrates. Silurian Fishes.—Land Plants. | [56] |
| [Chapter V.]—The Devonian or Erian Age. | |
| Physical Character of the Age.—Difference of Deposits in Marginal and Continental Areas.—Specialisation of Physical Geography.—Corals, Crustaceans, Fishes, Insects, Plants. | [81] |
| [Chapter VI.]—The Carboniferous Age. | |
| Perfection of Palæozoic Life.—Carboniferous Geography.—Colours of Sediments.—Vegetation.—Origin of Coal.—Land Life.—Reptiles, Land Snails, Millipedes, etc.—Oceanic Life. | [109] |
| [Chapter VII.]—The Permian Age. | |
| Movements of the Land.—Plication of the Crust.—Chemical Conditions of Dolomite, etc.—Geographical Results of Permian Movements.—Life of the Period. Summary of Palæozoic History. | [160] |
| [Chapter VIII.]—The Mesozoic Ages. | |
| Characters of the Trias.—Summary of Changes in the Triassic and Cretaceous Periods.—Changes of the Continental Plateaus.—Relative Duration of the Palæozoic and Mesozoic.—Mesozoic Forests.—Land Animals.—The reign of Reptiles.—Early Mammals and Birds. | [188] |
| [Chapter IX.]—The Mesozoic Ages (continued). | |
| Animals of the Sea.—Great Sea Lizards, Fishes, Cephalopods, etc.—Chalk and its History.—Tabular View of the Mesozoic Ages. | [211] |
| [Chapter X.]—The Neozoic Ages. | |
| Physical Changes at the end of Mesozoic.—Subdivisions of the Neozoic.—Great Eocene Seas.—Land Animals and Plants. Life of the Miocene.—Reign of Mammals. | [235] |
| [Chapter XI.]—The Neozoic Ages (continued). | |
| Later Vegetation.—The Animals of the Pliocene Period. Approach of the Glacial Period.—Character of the Post-pliocene or Glacial. | [258] |
| [Chapter XII.]—Close of the Post-pliocene, and Advent or Man. | |
| Connection of Geological and Human History.—The Post-glacial Period.—Its Relations to the Pre-Historic Human Period.—Elevation of Post-Pliocene Land.—Introduction of Man.—Subsidence and Re-elevation.—Calculations as to Time.—Tabular View of the Neozoic Ages. | [282] |
| [Chapter XIII.]—Advent Of Man (continued). | |
| Relations of Post-pliocene and Modern Animals.—Cavern Deposits.—Kent’s Cave.—General Remarks. | [299] |
| [Chapter XIV.]—Primitive Man. | |
| Theory of Evolution as applied to Man.—Its Demands.—Its Deficiencies.—Fallacious Character of Arguments of Derivationists. Hypothesis of Creation.—Its Demands and Advantages. | [316] |
| [Chapter XV.]—Primitive Man (continued). | |
| Geological Conditions of Man’s Introduction.—His Modern Date.—His Isolated Position.—His Higher Powers.—Pictures of Primitive Man according to Evolution and Creation.—General Conclusion. | [350] |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
| PAGE | |
| Ideal Sections Illustrating the Genesis or the Earth | [8] |
| America In The Laurentian Period | [18] |
| Eozoon Canadense | [24] |
| Life in the Primordial Age | [40] |
| Organic Limestone of the Silurian | [63] |
| Life in the Silurian | [66] |
| Life in the Devonian | [88] |
| Vegetation of the Devonian | [103] |
| Carboniferous Plants | [126] |
| Oldest Land Snails | [139] |
| Carboniferous Reptiles | [146] |
| Foldings of the Crust in the Permian Period | [162] |
| Curves of Elevation and Depression | [179] |
| Culmination of Types of Palæozoic Animals | [183] |
| Land Animals of the Mesozoic | [194] |
| Aquatic Animals of the Mesozoic | [219] |
| Foraminiferal Rock-builders | [243] |
| Miocene Mammals | [253] |
| Britain in the Post-pliocene | [301] |