the bodies which it surrounded that even the smallest apertures
became filled up and the powdery layer fitted accurately to the
surface of the object and even took something of its polish."

With regard to the composition of the various strata of the earth, the
father of geology {156} considered that if in a layer of rock all the
portions are of the same kind there is no reason to deny that such a
layer came into existence at the time of creation, when the whole
surface of the earth was covered with fluid. If, however, in any one
stratum portions of another stratum are found, or if the remains of
plants or animals occur, there is no doubt that such a stratum had not
its origin at the time of creation, but came into existence later.

If there is to be found in a stratum traces of sea salt, or the
remains of sea animals, or portions of vessels, or such like objects,
which are only to be encountered at the bottom of the sea, then it
must be considered that this portion of the earth's surface once was
below the sea level, though it may happen that this occurred only by
the accident of a flood of some kind. The great distance from the sea,
or other body of water, at the present time, may be due to the sinking
of the water level in the neighborhood, or by the rising up of a
mountain from some internal terrestrial cause in the interval of time.
He continues:--

If one finds in any layer remains of branches of trees, or herbs,
then it is only right to conclude that these objects were brought
together because of flood or of some such condition in the place
where they are now found. If in a layer coal and ashes and burnt
clay or other scorched bodies are found, then it seems sure that
some place in the neighborhood of a watercourse a fire took place,
and this is all the more sure when the whole layer consists of ashes
and {157} coal. Whenever in the same place the material of which all
the layers is composed is the same, there seems to be no doubt that
the fluid to which the stratum owes its origin did not at different
times obtain different material for its building purposes.

In respect to the mountains and their formation, Stensen said very
definitely:--

All the mountains which we see now have not existed from the
beginning of things. Mountains do not, however, grow as do plants.
The stones of which mountains are composed have only a certain
analogy with the bones of animals, but have no sim