3i8 Thotights on thefuppofcd Variations 



A natural confequence follows. If our northern dl(tri(?l3 

 of the earth were ever fituated in the torrid zone, a part of 

 the prefent torrid zone (for it is not polhble that this flwidd 

 have been the cafe with the whole of it) miift have occupied 

 the fouth temperate zone, or the frigid zone. If elephants 

 could exill in thofe fouthcrn diltrifts, at that time forming 

 the temperate and frigid zone, or if Germany and Siberia 

 were fuddenly tranfported more than four thoufand miles to- 

 wards the north pole, could thcfc animals withtland this ge- 

 neral revolution of the furface of the earth and ocean ? Or, 

 during this cataftrophe, were fome of thefe ponderous ani- 

 mals tranfported over the land and fea to their prefent place 

 of abode, in order to propagate their breed? 



Thefe quellions cannot be anfwercd; but are unneceffar}', 

 if we are convinced, from the principles here explained, that 

 fuch difplacenicnts of the poles of the earth are notadmiffible. 



But as the bones of elephants and the remains of auftral 

 plants are found under the earth in norchern countries, this 

 may be explained in the moft natural way, by fuppofing that 

 formerly a fpecies of thefe large animals and auRral plants 

 exifted in the temperate north latitudes; for it is certain that 

 nianv petrified lliells and plants, as well as the imprefiions of 

 infe6ts, are found under the earth, the originals of which 

 are unknown ; or that the prefent temperate zone enjoyed in 

 the anlient world a warmer phyfical temperature. 

 O Are there not fome proofs, generally fpeaking, that the 

 niafs of the cold in the north increafes, and that the ice is 

 more and more accumulated in the neighbourhood of the 

 north pole j that even our vegetables do not pofl'efs the fame 

 degree of perfeftion, and betray fymptoms of degeneration, 

 though the fniallell difplacement has never taken place in 

 tl'.e poles of the earth, and no change in the inclination of 

 the earth's axis that could have an influence on the climate ? 

 Is not the cold more widely d'ltliifod in the ibuthern hemi- 

 fpherc than in the northern, though both are equally expofed 

 to the fun, and though the fun in fummcr is many thoufand 

 milts nearer the former than the latter? 



The phylical climates of the earth however, and particu- 

 larly the two temperute and two frigid zones, as they are 

 far more expofed to the varied influence of the fun's rays 

 than the torrid zone, appear to have been fubjefted to great 

 variations at long intervals. But thefe depend much on 

 local and temporary circumftances, and are not determined 

 merely by the different cifefts of the fun's influence^ in con- 

 fequence of his annual return. They are at the fame time, 

 owino^ to the chemical fcrnieiUation in the mixture of the 



component 



