60 Proceedings. 



land and three-fifths water. We see also that the land is so 

 massed in the Northern Hemisi^here that the ocean covers 

 the greater part of the Southern Hemisphere. Indeed the 

 surface of the Earth may be so divided as to embrace in one 

 half nearly all the continental land, and in the other Australia 

 and the islands of the South Seas. We notice also in respect 

 of the land that its formation tends to elongation towards the 

 southern extremities rather than towards the north, east, or 

 west. This peculiarity exists in Europe in the Peninsula of 

 Spain and the elongation of Italy. In a more marked degree 

 the Asiatic Continent exhibits in India and in Malay the 

 same peculiarity. In Africa the mass of the Continent is in 

 the north, and from the Equator southward the land tapers 

 until the extremity is found at the Cape of Good Hope. 

 North America terminating in Florida, and South America 

 ending at Cape Horn, follow the same general rule ; nor is 

 Greenland exempt from the like characteristic. Of course 

 whatever determines the configuration of the land in hke 

 manner but conversely determines the configuration of the 

 seas." 



After describing in turn the chief physical features of 

 Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia, and America, the President 

 concluded by saying : — " If the members of the Club have 

 been able to follow my somewhat imperfect description of the 

 Earth's surface, they will have seen there is great variety to 

 be observed in its general aspect. The study of Physical 

 Geography will enable the enquirer not merely to gain a 

 knowledge of the details, but to put them together in his 

 mind so as to form a mental picture always agreeable to con- 

 template. There is of course a large amount of detail which 

 may also be studied — the peculiarities of the different 

 oceans, rivers, lakes, continents, and islands ; the ranges of 

 mountains, the various volcanoes and their effects ; the 

 influence of trojncal heat on certain districts of the Earth as 

 distinguished from equatorial heat ; the influence of forests, 

 mountains or seas on climate, and of climate on vegetable 

 and animal life, and on man ; besides many other points of 

 interest, the study of which will afford more permanent 



