Considerations sur quelques faits applicables a la theorie du globe, observes par M. Peron dans son voyage aux Terres australes, et sur quelques questions geologiques qui naissent de la connoissance de ces faits.
Paris: Levrault, Schoell et Cie, 1805. Paperback. Separately published fascicle with this highly important article by Lamarck, an important early analysis of the geological ramifications of discoveries of fossil marine animals at high elevations by Francois Peron during the Baudin expedition to the "terres australes" from 1801 to 1803. This Lamarck essay was published in 1805; Peron did not publish the 'Voyage de Decouvertes aux Terres Australes' until 1810. Includes references to Shark's Bay and Dirk Hartog on the Western Australian section of the expedition.
The analysis here is made by Jean Baptiste Lamarck, an important evolutionary biologist, thirty years before Charles Darwin's speculations on the age of the earth based on marine fossils he found at high elevations in the Peruvian Andes. The important marine fossils ("debris precieux d'animaux marins") referred to in this analysis were found by Peron as zoologist on Nicolas Baudin's expedition to Australia between 1801 and 1803.
Peron became the sole zoologist of the expedition and collected over 100,000 zoological specimens. Peron cites the presence of marine life at high elevations in "terre de Diemen", "la Nouvelle Hollande et de l'ile de Timor". Lamarck offers his own theories for the presence of the marine fossils, and speculates that all the continents were once covered by sea; that the sea level likely dropped leaving behind the marine fossils at high elevations; or the less likely hypothesis, that the mountains were thrust up out of the sea.
Lamarck also makes reference to Captain Cook's discoveries and his visit to the Friendly Isles, when he notes discoveries of marine fossils in France, near Paris. Lamarck notes these were identical to living animals found by Captain Cook in his visit to Tonga: "cerithium hexagonum ... et cerithium serratum... les memes especes que le capitaine Cook , dans ses voyages, a rencontrees vivantes dans la mer du Sud, a l'ile des Amis".
Original green printed paper wrappers with the heading, 'Annales du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle' followed by all the contents titles, including this Lamarck. The Lamarck has its own title page and pagination from p26 -52. 4to, unopened. Below the title: Tome Sixieme, Trente-Unieme Cahier. Ads printed inside the front and both sides of rear wrapper. Paper wraps very slightly ruffled at edges, o/w very good. OCLC: 931259246 records one copy. Not recorded on Trove. Very good. Item #15494
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