THE HUMAN SPECIES. 55 



for the present other considerations affecting the 

 Euxine, till the volcanic system of eastern Europe is 

 under review, we proceed with the Scandinavian pen- 

 insula. 



ARCTIC EUROPE. 



FROM Cape North, to the southward and east, as 

 already observed, the Lapland high lands are a system 

 spreading to the head of the Gulf of Bothnia, and in 

 connection with the high mountain chain of Scandi- 

 navia, once formed a great island, the Scansia of Jor- 

 nandes. The gulf and White Sea being still connected, 

 in 1450, by the Kitkacerva, and probably also by the 

 Ulea Lakes ; and, more anciently, the Ladoga and 

 Onega, communicating by the Ozero Sig and Ozero 

 Vigo, with the Arctic Sea. The greater part of Fin- 

 land, thick set with pools, is in itself strong evidence 

 of the fact. At the summit of the Gulf of Bothnia, it 

 had long been observed, that the sea was retiring by 

 slow degrees, not so much from the effect of fresh water 

 deposits, as, according to a common opinion, by a pro- 

 gressive rising of the submarine floor ; for many out- 

 lying rocks, known from ancient times by distinct names, 

 and sung in Runic ballads, for being the basking beds 

 of seals, where daring hunters acquired celebrity in 

 their pursuit, had risen above water beyond the reach 



locks, although it does not appear that careful surveys had 

 determined the lowest levels. 



