Volume 183501

Principles of geology, being an attempt to explain the former changes of the earth's surface, by reference to causes now in operation / [Sir Charles Lyell].

  • Lyell, Charles, Sir, 1797-1875
Date:
1835
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Principles of geology, being an attempt to explain the former changes of the earth's surface, by reference to causes now in operation / [Sir Charles Lyell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    noyers, that M. Deshayes had, by the mere in- spection of the fossil shells in his extensive museum, convinced himself that the different ter- tiary formations might be arranged in a chronolo- gical series. I accordingly lost no time in seeing M. Deshayes, who explained to me the data on which he considered that three tertiary periods might be established, the two first of which corre- sponded to two which I was prepared to adopt (the Eocene and Miocene), and the last of which embraced the Subapennine beds, as distinguished from those of Bordeaux and the Superga. I at once perceived that the fossils obtained by me in my tour would form but an inconsiderable contri- bution to so great a body of zoological evidence as M. Deshayes had already in his possession. I therefore requested him to examine my shells when they arrived from Italy, and expressed my great desire to obtain his co-operation in my work ; in which, as will appear in the sequel, I was fortunate enough to succeed. The preparation of my first volume had now been suspended for nine months, and was not re- sumed till my return to London, in the begin- ning of March, 1829. During the spring of that year, I printed, jointly with Mr. Murchison, three memoirs, containing observations made by us in 1828, in Auvergne, Cantal, and the country of A 6