LAND AND WATER. 



567 



land and water fighting, as it were, for the mastery, as they are fighting 

 to this day. 



But perhaps some reader may not think that the land and water of our 

 earth are thus engaged. A very few minutes' reflection will suffice to 

 confirm our assertion. Look at the lofty crags in the Alps, for instance ; 

 what has shattered those peaks, and sent the masses toppling down in stone 

 avalanches to the lower slopes, and then into the valleys ? Water. Water 

 has been in the crevices, and was frozen there ; in freezing it expanded and 

 loosened the crags, which, forced asunder, gave an opening to more snow and 

 ice, and so this powerful leverage, aided by the wind and storm, is disinte- 

 grating our mountains. 



Fig. 638. Breakers on the coast of Cornwall 



It is the same by the seashore ; the cliffs are wearing away, and the 

 sea approaches ; at other places the sea recedes from the land, as coral 

 formation and embryo chalk cliffs are rising under the surface of the ocean. 

 Lakes dry up, and the meadow or farm arises on the site, while other old spots 

 are submerged. No rest, no change of idea, but ever changing in physical 

 appearance, Nature goes on her wondrous way, working now as steadily, 

 as harmoniously, and as surely as she did before time was, and as she will 

 continue to do when time shall be no more ! 



In our investigations into Geology .we cannot enter into many technical 

 details. Our object in these pages is recreation ; but we shall, even under 

 these circumstances, find plenty to interest, and sufficient to lead any one 



