SUMMARY OF THE CONTENTS. XV11 



mi circling heavenly bodies of very different density and magnitude, 

 and partly scattered as self-luminous vapor. Review of the separate 

 portions of the picture of nature, for the purpose of explaining the re- 

 ciprocal connection of all phenomena. 



I. Celestial Portion of the Cosmos Page 83-154 



II. Terrestrial Portion of the Cosmo* p. 154-359 



a. Form of the earth, its mean density, quantity of heat, electro-mag- 

 netic activity, process of light p. 154-202. 



b. Vital activity of the earth toward its external surface. Reaction 

 af the interior of a planet on its crust and surface. Subterranean noise 

 without waves of concussion. Earthquakes dynamic phenomena 

 p. 202-217. 



c. Material products which frequently accompany earthquakes. Gas 

 eons and aqueous springs. Salses and mud volcanoes Upheavals of 

 the soil by elastic forces p. 217-228. 



d. Fire-emitting mountains. Craters of elevation. Distribution of 

 volcanoes on the earth p. 228-247. 



e. Volcanic forces form new kinds of rock, and metamorphose those 

 already existing. Geognostical classification of rocks into four groups. 

 Phenomena of contact. Fossiliferous strata ; their vertical arrangement. 

 The faunas and floras of an earlier world. Distribution of masses of 

 rock p. 247-284. 



/. Geognostical epochs, which are indicated by the mineralogical dif- 

 ference of rocks, have determined the distribution of solids and fluids 

 into continents and seas. Individual configuration of solids into hori- 

 zontal expansion and vertical elevation. Relations of area. Articula- 

 tion. Probability of the continued elevation of the earth's crust in 

 ridges p. 284-301. 



^. Liquid and aeriform envelopes of the solid surface of our planet. 

 Distribution of heat in both. The sea. The tides. Currents and their 

 effects p. 301-311. 



h. The atmosphere. Its chemical composition. Fluctuations ia ita 

 density. Law of the direction of the winds. Mean temperature. Enu- 

 meration of the causes which tend to raise and lower the temperature. 

 Continental and insular climates. East and west coasts. Cause of the 

 curvature of the isothermal lines. Limits of perpetual snow. Quantity 

 of vapor. Electricity in the atmosphere. Forms of the clouds p. 

 311-339. 



i. Separation of inorganic terrestrial life from the geography of vital 

 organisms ; the geography of vegetables and animals. Physical grada- 

 tions of the human race p. 339-359. 



Special Analysis of the Delineation of Nature, including References to the 

 Subjects treated of in the Notes. 



I. Celestial Portion of the Cosmos p. 83-154 



The universe and all that it comprises multiform nebulous spots, 

 planetary vapor, and nebulous stars. The picturesque charm of a 

 southern sky note, p. 85. Conjectures on the position in space of 

 the world. Our stellar masses. A cosmical island. Gauging stars 

 Double stars revolving round a common center. Distance of the star 61 

 Cygni p. 88 and note. Our solar system more complicated than was 

 conjectured at the close of the last century. Primary planets with Nep- 

 tune, Astrea, Hebe, Iris, and Flora, now constitute 16 ; secondary plan- 

 eta 18 ; myriads of comets of which many of the inner ones are inclosed 



