Essay on the theory of the earth / by M. Cuvier ; with mineralogical notes, and an account of Cuvier's geological discoveries by Professor Jameson.

  • Cuvier, Georges, baron, 1769-1832.
Date:
1817
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essay on the theory of the earth / by M. Cuvier ; with mineralogical notes, and an account of Cuvier's geological discoveries by Professor Jameson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

    49/392 (page 19)
    The sharp peaks and rugged indentations which mark their summits, and strike the eye at a great distance, are so many proofs of the vio- lent manner in which they have been elevated, n^eir appearance in this respect is very differ- ent from that of the rounded mountains and the hills with fjat surfaces, whose recently formed masses have always remained in the situation in which they were quietly deposited by the &ea which last covered them. These proofs become more obvious as we ap- proach. The vallies have no longer those gently sloping sides, or those alternately salient and re- entrant angles opposite to one another, which seem to indicate the beds of ancient streams. They widen and contract without any general rule ; their waters sometimes expand into lakes, and sometimes descend in torrents; and here and there the rocks, suddenly approaching from each side, form transverse dikes, over which the waters fall in cataracts. The shattered strata of these vallies expose their edges on one side, and present on the other side large portions of their surface lying obliquely ; they do not correspond in height, but those which on on^ side form thp