Rambles among the Channel Islands / by a Naturalist.

Date:
[1855?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Rambles among the Channel Islands / by a Naturalist. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    decomposed into a less or greater number of masses, either exhibiting all their fundamental forms—which are derived from the action of definite constructive forces under the direction and control of tbe Mighty Creator—or merely a portion of them. It follows as a consequence of this fact, that analogy of form and contour throws the greatest light on the constitution of countries far removed from each other. Thus, as it has been aptly remarked, even the pic- turesque descriptions of a traveller often afford information of which he may himself be little aware. Applying these remarks to the geology of the Channel Islands, it has been already observed that no one who has just left the alluvial dis- tricts of England, and visits these islands, can fail to be struck with the fact, that a strange difference exists between the scenery of the islands and that of the districts in question. Perhaps every person may not be able to ac- count for the difference, or, in strictness, to describe it; but it is universally felt and recog- nised. What, then, is the difference ? and what is its cause? The difference is simply this: the contour of the islands is that of a district composed exclusively of primary rocks, while that of the alluvial country is that exhibited by land appropriately called derived—that is, ob-