OPINION OF ARISTOTLE. 305 



words of this illustrious savan : *• Ouly those of narrow 

 riews and small experience attribute these partial 

 changes to an overthrowing of the whole globe. 

 When, in support of their vie\ys, they bring forward 

 the drying-up of seas, and the existence of dry land 

 where it formerly was not, they give authentic facts, 

 from which, however, they deduce false conclusions. 

 It is true that certain spots heretofore covered with 

 water now form a portion of the continent, but 

 the contrary is also the case, and any one who 

 studiously examines the facts would find that the 

 sea had invaded and submerged several pails. Such 

 appears to be the explanation of Deucalion's flood, 

 the ravages of which were more especially felt in 

 Greece, and which among other provinces was most 

 terribly felt in ancient Helas, a country extending 

 from Dodona to the Achelous. This river then 

 changed its course several times. The province was 

 at that time inhabited by the Selles, and by the 

 people named Greeks, now called Hellenes." 



Certain coasts of the same sea will, in the same 

 time, show but little variation. The Strait of 

 Messina, more especially on the Sicilian side, re- 

 ceives quantities of sand; but it lias relatively suffered 

 such slight changes, that the same race have in- 

 habited it since the time of Homer. In reading the 

 descriptions given of this place by Homer, Polybius, 



X 



