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11EC:&EATIVE SCIENCE. 



which sometimes traverse the whole line in 

 a series of awful vibrations. At the eastern 

 end of this chord are sixteen volcanoes, many 

 of them still active, which keep Cape Lopatka 

 and the Kurile Islands in a state of con- 

 stant disturbance. The line then trends 

 southwards, and involves the islands of the 

 Japanese group in its convulsive throes of 

 earthquake, and dipping downwards into the 

 fifteenth degree of south latitude embraces 



The North-polar Group of Volcanic Craters. 



Sumatra, Java, Sumbawa, Papua, the Friendly 

 Islands, and terminates in Tongarira, and 

 the other craters in the northern portion of 

 New Zealand. This extensive chain is repre- 

 sented in the maps in two divisions, because 

 the Aleoutian group has some very distinctive 

 features. 



The third belt traverses the south of 

 Europe from the fortieth degree of north 

 latitude to the northern kingdoms of Africa, 

 while, from east to west, it extends from the 

 Caspian to the Azores. Within this region 

 are the classic peaks of Etna, Vesuvius, and 

 Stromboli, each of which still maintains its 

 activity, seemmgly exhaustless. Vesuvius 

 and Etna have both recently exhibited proofs 

 that their energies are not yet dead, while 



the ever-burning Stromboli is a fire-beacon 

 to the Mediterranean Sea. 



Let us now connect these volcanic groups 

 into one geographical system, and it will be 

 seen that the earth is belted round with a 

 fiery girdle, the main course of which is from 

 east to west, but which lets fall at least two 



New Zealand. 



The Chaih connecting the North-polar Group with the 

 Indian Archipelago and New Zealand. 



great ribbons of convulsive power southward. 

 Let it be further noted that the great belt 

 and its related lines all traverse either the sea 

 itself, or coast-lines in proximity to water ; for, 

 even where it crosses the old continent, it takes 

 its way by the Caspian, the Black Sea, and 



