parent rock, and broken, rolled, and thrown together, by the action of the waves. We are certain of this because we know that flints cannot

grow;* that they were originally formed in the hollows or fissures of other stones; and upon

*"Flints cannot grow."-Here I would digress for a moment to notice an opinion so generally prevalent, that perhaps some of my young readers will not be prepared at once to answer the question-Do stones grow? The farmer who annually ploughs the same land, and observes a fresh crop of stones every season, will probably reply in the affirmative; and the general observer who has for successive years noticed his gardens and plantations strewn with stones, notwithstanding their frequent removal, may possibly entertain the same opinion; but a little reflection will show that stones cannot be said to grow or increase, in the proper acceptation of the term. Animals and plants grow, because they are provided with vessels and organs by which they are capable of taking up particles of matter and converting them into their own substance; but an inorganic body can only increase in bulk by the addition of some extraneous material; hence stones may become incrusted, or they may be cemented together and form a solid conglomerate, but they possess no inherent power by which they can increase either in size or numberthey cannot grow.

FOSSIL ECHINUS WITH SPINES.

9

inspecting the pebble more attentively, we perceive, not only that such was the case, but also that it has been moulded in Chalk, for it contains

LIGN. 2:-Fossil Turban Echinus, with its spines; in limestone.

(See 'Medals of Creation,' p. 340.)

the remains of certain species of extinct shells and corals, which are found exclusively in that

rock. Here then a remarkable phenomenon presents itself for our consideration; this flint, now so hard and unyielding, must once have been in a soft or fluid state, for the delicate markings of the case and spine of an Echinus, or Sea-Urchin, are deeply impressed on its surface;* and a fragile shell with its spines, is partially imbedded in its substance.† Nay more, upon breaking off one end of the pebble,‡ we find that a sponge, or some analogous marine zoophyte, is entirely enveloped by the flint; and also that there are here and there portions of minute corals, and scales of fishes. What a What a "Medal of Creation" is here

what a page of nature's volume to interpret

what interesting reflections crowd upon the mind!

*Plate 1, a.

† Plate 1, b.

Plate 1, c.

FOSSIL SHELLS IN CHALK.

11

To avoid confusion, we will reverse the order of our inquiry, and first contemplate the formation of the flint in its native rock. The Chalk,

LIGN. 3:-Shell with spines, imbedded in Chalk; from Lewes.

(See' Medals of Creation,' p. 390.)

that beautiful white stone, which (as an American friend, who saw it for the first time, observed),

is so like an artificial production, abounds in

marine shells and corals, and in the remains of fishes, crabs, lobsters, and reptiles, all of which differ essentially from living species; although a

LIGN. 4-Fossil teeth of Fishes of the Shark family, in Chalk; from Lewes. (See' Medals of Creation,' p. 625.)