Werner, with his usual acutenes, soon discovered that the documents for the illustration of this supposed phe nomenon were not to be sought for in the formations that have taken place within the limits of human history, but in the solid strata of which the crust of the earth is composed. His investigations led him to the following observations : 1st, That the outgoings of the newer strata are generally lower than the outgoings of the older, from granite downwards to the alluvial depositions, and this not in particular spots, but around the whole globe. 2d, That the primitive part of the earth is entirely com posed of chemical precipitations, and that mechanical depositions do not appear until a later period, that is, in the Transition class; and that from this point they con tinue increasing, through all the succeding classes of rocks, to the newest or the alluvial, which are almost entirely mechanical deposits. These observations, in his opinion, illustrate the universal diminution of the waters of the globe. The sinking of the level of the outgoings of the newer and newer strata, he continues, shows that the solution from which they were formed must have experienced a similar change; that is, it must have diminished in height, and that not in one spot, but around the whole globe. Hence the water which once covered the whole globe to a great height must have diminished universally.
The period of the occurrence of mechanical deposi tions is a further proof of the diminution of the water. We find, that in the earliest periods chemical produc tions only were formed, owing to the high and universal submergence. It is evident, that when the earth was covered to a great height with water, no mechanical de posits could be formed ; for it is well known, that the motion communicated to water does not reach to a great depth. Mechanical deposits would, therefore, be first formed, as soon as part of the solid mass of the earth appeared above the level of the water, or when the sur face of the water approached so near to that of the earth, that it could act on it mechanically. Hence, as soon as the higher parts of the earth rose above the surface of the water, mechanical depositions would increase ; and we find, accordingly, an increase of mechanical deposi tion, cortesponding to the diminishing level of the ocean, from the transition to the newest period. It follows, that as these alterations have been universal, extending around the whole globe, the level of the water has changed uniformly and universally, and that it has sunk by degrees to its present level.
Several other interesting phenomena, which we have already mentioned in part, strengthen and illustrate more fully the preceding conclusions. Petrifactions, we know, first occur in formations of a middle age; but none have ever been observed in the older and completely chemical formations. In the transition rocks, where they first
occur, they are but rare, yet in the newer transition rocks they increase considerably in quantity. In the fltetz formations, they also continue increasing in quan tity, to the newer formations.
In respect to the nature of these remains, Werner remarks, that those which occur in the earliest periods belong to the lowest and most imperfect class of animals, the zoophytes. In the newer and newer formations, we meet with quantities of shells and fish, and these are ac companied by a variety of marine plants. But these or ganic remains are completely different from any of the animals or vegetables of the present state of the earth. The organic creation during that period, appears to have had a totally different aspect from what it assumed in the succeeding. In the newer formations, we find the remains of known genera, and in the newest of all the remains of organic species, resembling those found ir. the present seas. Land plants appear later, and land animals still later. At first, they appear to have been but few, and very different from those of the present time. In the oldest of the transition rucks, which appear to have been formed while the earth was still covered with water, we find the remains only of marine plants and animals, but no traces of terrestrial organization. We first meet with such relics in the newer rocks of this class, which were formed after a portion of the land was uncovered, and capable of supporting terrestrial vegetation. From this period to the newest or alluvial, as we have already remarked, the quantity and variety of vegetable remains increase; and this is further con firmed by a correspondent increase of coal.
All the appearances we have now detailed are, in \Verner's opinion, distinctly connected with the diminu tion of the water, and are to be considered as effects and proofs of its reality. It it evident that, during the period when the earth was still covered to a great height with water, neither plants nor animals had been created. When the water diminished in height, and the dry land began to appear, marine plants, and the lowest•and most imperfect animals, were created. As the water dimi nished, it appears to have become gradually more fitted for the support of animals and vegetables, as we find them increasing in number, variety, and perfection, and approaching more to the nature of those in the present seas, the lower the level of the outgoings of the strata, or, what is the same thing, the lower the level of the water. The same gradual increase of organic beings appears to have taken place on the dry land.