Origin of Species Variorum

→ level, as well as the subsequent subaerial degradation. 1869 1872

level. 1859 1860 1861 1866

→ OMIT 1869 1872

judging from the researches of E. Forbes , we may conclude that 1859 1860 1861

judging from the rescarches of E. Forbes , we may conclude that 1866

→ so many and such varied forms of life, as the more shallow seas; 1869 1872

extremely few animals, 1859 1860

few animals, 1861 1866

→ and the mass when upraised will give an imperfect record of the organisms which existed throughout the world during the period of its accumulation. Or, 1869

and the mass when upraised will give a most imperfect record of the forms of life which then existed; or, 1859 1860

but it will not be, as we at last know from the telegraphic soundings, barren of life; consequently the mass when up-raised will give a most imperfect record of the forms of life which existed during the period of deposition. Or, 1861

but it will not be, as we now know from telegraphic and other deep soundings, barren of life; consequently the mass when upraised will give a most imperfect record of the forms of life which existed during the period of deposition. Or, 1866

and the mass when upraised will give an imperfect record of the organisms which existed in the neighbourhood during the period of its accumulation. Or, 1872

→ varied forms, and thus a rich 1869 1872

thus a 1859 1860 1861 1866

→ throughout the greater part of their thickness rich 1866 1869 1872

rich 1859 1860

throughout the greater part of their thickness rich 1861

tertiary remains can anywhere be found, though the supply of sediment must for ages have been great, from the enormous degradation of the coast-rocks and from muddy streams entering the sea. The explanation, no doubt, is, that the littoral and sub-littoral deposits are continually worn away, as soon as they are brought up by the slow and gradual rising of the land within the grinding action of the coast-waves.

We may, I think,

safely

....

conclude that sediment must be accumulated in extremely thick, solid, or extensive masses, in order to withstand the incessant action of the waves, when first upraised and during

subsequent

successive

oscillations of →level, as well as the subsequent subaerial degradation. Such thick and extensive accumulations of sediment may be formed in two ways;

either,

either

in profound depths of the sea, in which

case,

case

→OMIT the bottom will

not be

inhabited by →so many and such varied forms of life, as the more shallow seas; →and the mass when upraised will give an imperfect record of the organisms which existed throughout the world during the period of its accumulation. Or, sediment may be

accumulated

deposited

to any thickness and extent over a shallow bottom, if it continue slowly to subside. In this latter case, as long as the rate of subsidence and

supply

the supply

of sediment nearly balance each other, the sea will remain shallow and favourable for

life,

many

and →varied forms, and thus a rich

rich fossiliferous

fossiliferous

formation

formation,

thick enough, when upraised, to resist

any

almost any

a large

amount of

degradation,

denudation,

may be formed.

I am convinced that

all

nearly all

our ancient formations, which are → throughout the greater part of their thickness rich

fossils,

fossils ,

fossils,

have thus been formed during subsidence. Since publishing my views on this subject in 1845, I have watched the progress of Geology, and have been surprised to note how author after author, in treating of this or that great formation, has come to the