PRINCIPLES OF GEOLOGY OR THE MODERN CHANGES OF THE EARTH AND ITS INHABITANTS CONSIDERED AS ILLUSTRATIVE OF GEOLOGY BY SIR CHARLES LYELL, BART. M.A. F.R.S. "Verè scire est per causas scire '-BACON The stony rocks are not primeval, but the daughters of Time '-LINNÆUS, Syst. Nat. 'Amid all the revolutions of the globe the economy of Nature has been uniform, and her TENTH AND ENTIRELY REVISED EDITION IN TWO VOLUMES.-VOL. I. Illustrated with Maps, Plates, and Woodcuts LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET 1867 The right of translation is reserved PREFACE ΤΟ THE TENTH EDITION. 1.84. EARTH SCIENCES LIBRARY It is now thirteen years and a half since the last or ninth edition of the 'Principles of Geology' appeared; a long interval in the history of the progress of a science, in which so many able investigators and thinkers, in every civilised country of the world, are actively engaged. In re-editing the work, I have found it necessary entirely to re-write some chapters and to recast others, and to modify or omit some passages given in former editions. For the sake of those readers who are already familiar with the Principles,' I subjoin a list of the chief additions now made for the first time, pointing out the pages at which corresponding matter occurs in the ninth and tenth editions. List of the Principal Additions and Corrections in the First Volume of the Tenth Edition of the Principles of Geology.' Additions and Corrections. The opinion of Anaximander, that fish were the parents of mankind,' how far an anticipation of the modern doctrine of development. An abridged table of fossiliferous strata in their order of superposition, inserted from the 'Elements' for the sake of reference. The Ninth Chapter, on the progressive development of organic life, has been entirely re-written. M334288 Ninth Tenth Edition. Edition. Page Page 73 174 to 91 211 to 92 212 to 113 232 113 233 to to 130 267 100 268 to and 126 204 223 237 271 279 304 Additions and Corrections. The Tenth Chapter (corresponding in part with Chapter VI. of the former edition) has also been re-written. It treats of the changes of climate, established on evidence, organic and inorganic, derived from the Tertiary and Post-tertiary formations. The Eleventh Chapter is new, treating of the proofs of former vicissitudes in climate, derived from the study of the Secondary and Primary fossiliferous formations. This Twelfth Chapter, on the geographical causes of former changes in climate, has been re-written. It is illustrated by three new maps. In this Thirteenth Chapter, to which there are only a few passages corresponding in former editions, I have considered how far former vicissitudes in climate may have been influenced by astronomical changes; such as variations in the excentricity of the earth's orbit, changes in the obliquity of the ecliptic, and different phases of the precession of the equinoxes. Mr. Croll's suggestion as to the probable effects of a large excentricity in producing glacial epochs is fully discussed, and the question is entertained whether geological dates may be obtained, by reference to the combined effect of astronomical and geographical causes. 335 The earth-pillars or pyramids of Botzen in the Tyrol and other localities, illustrated by a drawing of Sir John Herschel's, are here introduced, as showing the power of rain as distinct from that of running water. The glacial origin of the formation of which the pillars are made is also pointed out. 372 376 393 398 420 434 Notice of the theory of regelation of Tyndal and Faraday The glacier-lake of the Alps called the Märjelen See,' de- Playfair on the origin of the lake-basin of Geneva. 447 A new hypothesis proposed to explain the origin of the 457 461 The antiquity of the delta and alluvial plain of the Missis- Mr. H. W. Bates and Professor Agassiz on the delta of the Freshwater deposits supposed by Agassiz to indicate an 475 Delta of the Ganges-Mr. Fergusson's opinions as to the |