CHAPTER XVI 
CHANGES IN LEVEL OF THE LAND 
Historical Evidences. — One of the most striking 
results of the study of geology, is the proof that the 
land is very unstable in relation to sea-level. The 
crust appears to be in constant but slow movement. 
Of this there are two classes of evidence, — one his- 
torical, the other geological. 
Although the latter is by far the more important, the 
former merits consideration, if only because of our 
interest in such a testimony from human records. Of 
the many scores of instances which have been recorded 
in various parts of the earth, but two or three are men- 
tioned here. 
The evidence of the movement of the land that has 
been most frequently described, is that of the temple of 
Jupiter Serapis, near Naples in Italy. This was built 
near sea-level, and three of its columns are now stand- 
ing, while the floor of the temple is beneath the water. 
At a height of twelve feet above their base, these col- 
umns begin to show the borings of a shell, the Litho- ~ 
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