e demonstrated the absolute invariability of the mean ce of the earth from the sun; whence it would at seem to follow, that the mean annual supply of light eat derived from that luminary would be alike inva; but a closer consideration of the subject will show, his would not be a legitimate conclusion; but that ⇒ contrary, the mean amount of solar radiation is dent on the eccentricity of the earth's orbit, and thereable to variations.

Now the eccentricity of the earth's orbit," he con=, "is actually diminishing, and has been so for ages d the records of history. In consequence, the ellip; in a state of approach to a circle, and the annual ge of solar heat radiated to the earth is actually on the But whether this diminution of radiated heat is ient to account for the refrigeration of climate, which gical facts appear to prove, is a question which has een decided."

ase.

lowing that the earth's orbit should become a perfect we are at a loss to see how the mean annual radiashould thereby be diminished. It is the opinion of rago, that the mean amount of solar radiation can be materially affected by the irregularities of the s annual motion.

would appear, therefore, that we cannot look to asmy with much confidence, for a solution of the probn question.

recent and highly respectable author, Dr. Ure, of row, believes that the original heat of the earth was ated in consequence of the evaporation of the waters › deluge.

e cooling influence of evaporation, under certain circances, is undoubtedly very great, and most probably any instances, produces effects which are attributed er causes. In India, ice is produced by the evapora f water in the open air. It is said that under cerircumstances, by the spontaneous evaporation of one f water from the surface of thirty-two parts, at the rature of 62°, the remaining thirty-one parts will ndered nearly ice cold, and by the evaporation of parts more, the remaining twenty-seven will become

perate cl

than eigh

e effects of evaporation, together with the absence of e heating surface, is strikingly illustrated in the tem

with the

of the m earth. A

season, se

mate is st never risi temperatu at this pla

rise above heat is or

residence

The isl nox, pres heats wit

the same

and, seldo Bengal, above 100 It is at

dry, that Mungo F ground b the negr could not he could

which en

pain from

Dr. U land is

surface, before th whole, th We ca

and arg

subject; have giv

just deta the delu stitution

er and p. 491.

The

te climate of St. Helena. This island, though less eighteen degrees from the equator, and on a parallel the burning plains of continental Africa, enjoys one e most comfortable and salubrious climates on the 1. At Jamestown, the thermometer, in the warmest ›n, seldom rises above 80°. In the country, the cliis still more mild, the thermometer, in some seasons, r rising higher than 72°. At Jamestown, the average erature during the year is from 66° to 78°, the heat is place, being concentrated by the high rocks which above the town. At Plantation house, the average is only from 61° to 73°, and at Longwood, the last ence of Napoleon, from 56° to 68°.

he island of Sumatra, though directly under the equipresents a similar exemption from the excessive s with which the interior of continents, situated on same parallel, are oppressed. The heat, at this islseldom rises higher than 85°, at any season; while at gal, which is situated in 22° north latitude, it is often e 100°.

is at a distance from the sea, and where the surface is that the greatest accumulation of heat takes place. go Park relates that in some districts in Africa, the nd became so hot by the action of the sun, that even negroes, though accustomed to that ardent climate,

not bear to touch it with their naked feet; and that ould not hold forth his hand against a current of air h entered the crevices of his hut, without feeling acute from its scorching effects.

r. Ure supposes that a portion of the ante-diluvian is now covered by the ocean, and that the heating ace, or dry land on the earth, was twice as extensive re the deluge as it is now, and, consequently, as a le, that its heating effects were doubled.

We cannot follow Dr. Ure through the detail of facts arguments which he has brought forward on this ect; but after many additional statements to those we given, he concludes, "that the facts and observations detailed, seem adequate to prove that the events of eluge involved such a change in the terraqueous conion, as rendered the surface of the globe much coldnd moister than it had previously been."-Geology,

91.

be mront and anddan fall of mnorature which the

suffered at a former time, and which is supposed to e taken place about the period of the deluge, is indi1 by the situation and number of fossil bones, belongto species known to inhabit hot climates, found in hern latitudes.

The almost incredible number of bones of fossil eleats," says Dr. Ure, "found in northern Siberia, which y no marks of having been rolled or transported a distance, attest the existence on its plains of huge iverous animals at that distant epoch. These demone that a vigorous vegetation clothed countries now red with frost a great part of the year, where, even ummer, sterilizing cold and humidity perpetually mn, and where, at present, the reindeer can hardly up from beneath the snow its scanty mouthful of S."

ot only the bones of elephants, but those of the rhinos, the mastodon, and hippopotamus, are found in Sia. All these animals living on vegetables, and, from sizes, requiring large quantities for their sustenance, ould seem impossible, as we have before stated, that in present state of the climate, there should have grown a cient quantity of nourishment for the support of these als.

hat these animals died where they had lived, and where I remains are now found, is proved by the circumces that their skeletons are entire, and that their bones y no scratches, or other marks of transportation or fricThat these bones have not lain for a long period in t climate, is proved by their state of preservation; y of the elephants' tusks being perfectly sound, and ing the best of ivory, for which purpose vast numhave been dug up and sold. The change of climate therefore have taken place at the deaths of these ani, or soon after.

hat these animals died suddenly, and remained in a climate after death, at least some of them, is proved he circumstance, that the body of an elephant was

on the bank of the river Lena, in 1803. It was en in the ice, a large proportion of the flesh being still erved, and serving as food for the white bears and . Now, since there is no reason to believe that this

al could have lived in a cold climate, and as there is

every rea
were foun

admit of
and sudde
that this to
or soon aft
If it is c
a cold clin
been
prese
clusion is
at the time
The op

what here

he, "of a tion, in eit globe is in

There a whose rem

of the gene
transported
phe. The
valleys, w
been left b
have been
considered

ces, as to
would hav
On revi
it is thoug
conclusion
First,

that of the

Second.
Siberia su
perature,
now.

Third,
of the des
which in
among
bones of
Fourth
change c
superfici

- reason to suppose that he died where his remains found, perhaps the nature of such a case could not of stronger evidence, that there happened a great udden change from heat to cold in that country, and his took place at the time when this animal perished, on after.

it is certain, that this animal could not have lived in d climate, and equally so that his body could not have preserved more than a few days in a hot one, the conon is inevitable, that the climate must have changed e time of his death, or immediately afterwards. he opinion of Baron Cuvier, entirely coincides with here seems to be proved. "Every hypothesis," says of a gradual cooling of the earth, or a slow variain either the inclination or position of the axis of the è is inadmissible.”

here are many reasons for believing that the animals e remains are thus found, were destroyed at the time e general deluge, and also that their bodies were not ported to any considerable distance by that catastroThere bones are found on plains and the sides of ys, where we should suppose their bodies would have left by the retiring waters, and in many instances they been found covered by sand or gravel, such as are dered diluvial deposites, and under such circumstanas to make it improbable that any ordinary flood d have produced similar effects.

reviewing the facts and circumstances above stated, thought that we may fairly come to the following lusions:

rst, That the climate of Siberia was once similar to of the tropics of the present day.

cond, That at the epoch of the deluge, the climate of ia suffered a sudden and material change in its temure, and that it then became similar to what it is

hird, That the deluge was the most probable cause e destruction of several ancient races of quadrupeds, h inhabited that country, anterior to the flood, and ng which, were the elephant and rhinoceros, the s of which still exist there. And,

ourth, That the most probable cause of the sudden ge of climate in Siberia, and of the decrease of the

I produced by the evaporation of the waters of the ige.

arther remarks on Change of Climate. Since the her edition of this work, considerable light has been wn on the subject of organic remains as connected "change of climate," by various writers; and from ch it appears that some species of animals belonging enera, usually considered tropical, have been found able of sustaining much higher latitudes than was besupposed.

t will be remembered, that in nearly every instance, fossil bones of animals belonging to genera now living, e of species unknown to naturalists of the present day. ay therefore be inferred, that if it can be shown that e are elephants and tigers now living in cold latitudes, fossil bones of these animals, found in Siberia and er northern regions, might have belonged to such spe, and thus that the situation of these bones may be unted for, without so great a change of climate as has etofore been supposed.

In 17 the Wil

noceros, must hav sembled ing, or pu hair, whi The el account o

has recently been proved, beyond all doubt, that a ies of tiger identical with that of Bengal, is common he vicinity of lake Aral, in Independent Tartary, in ude 45° north, and also, that this animal is often seen Siberia as high as latitude 52°. Humboldt, who states e facts, remarks, that the part of Asia now inhabited his species of tiger, is separated from the Himmaleb wo great chains of mountains, each covered by per al snow. These mountains are the Kuenlun, in ude 35°, and the Mouztagh, in latitude 42°. So that it npossible that these animals should merely have made ursions from India, and penetrated during the summer -8° and 53° of latitude, where they are found. In 8, a tiger was killed on the bank of the Lena, in Asiatic sia, in latitude about 52°, and in a climate colder than of Petersburg, or Stockholm. We are not informed ther this tiger was covered with fur and long hair, or but it is stated, in the Ehrenberg Journal of Natural nces, as quoted by Mr. Lyell, that a new species of her (Felis irbis) has been discovered with long hair, Siberia, evidently inhabiting, like the tiger, a region h of the Celestial Mountains, which are in latitude

quadrupe

coat, cons seems to the Musk Bishop the Uppe range of tween 29 size, cove

Mr. E

wild elep at the el and in 3 heard of shaggy h such a pl individua

exceeding

being a

would ot

cerning i

might on writers, elephant numbers that in n all proba elephant them ent

and sold

Now

hair, so

arctic c

the diffi herds of