A STUDY IN FORM. 



185 



spherical form to plane with the least strain of the rind. The resulting 

 shape is delineated in figure 3. Figure 4 shows the form assumed by the 

 complementary part of the orange peel, which represents, of course, that 

 portion of the ocean outside the continental shoals. In each diagram 



Figure 3. — The continental Plateau, developed on a plane Surface. 



the positions of the poles, north and south, are represented by the letters 

 N and S. From the study of these figures, and especially from their 

 study as delineated on the globe, it appeared possible that a portion of 

 the continental plateau might belt the earth as a great circle. The dis- 

 covery of such a belt would be important, for by assuming that it was 



N 



Figure I. — Oceanic Area complementary to the continental Plateau, developed on a plane Surface. 



originally equatorial we might be led to new hypotheses of continental 

 development. In a rotating liquid sphere the only differentiation of sur- 

 face condition we can readily conceive is that between equatorial and 

 polar regions, and if such differentiation were sufficient to cause or local- 



