THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. 201 



Between Cape Hatteras and Newfoundland, though lessened 

 in amount, the warmth of the stream in winter is still 25 or 

 30 above that of the ocean through which it flows. Nor is 

 this heat wholly lost when it reaches and is spread over the 

 coasts of Northern Europe. The waters, thus constantly 

 flowing to us from the tropical regions, bring warmth as 

 well as abundant moisture to our own islands ; and Ireland 

 especially, upon which they more directly impinge, doubtless 

 derives much of its peculiarity of climate its moisture, 

 verdure, and abundant vegetation from this source. Were 

 it needful to seek proof of the permanence of the great 

 natural phenomenon of which we are speaking, we might 

 find it in those curious passages of ancient geographers 

 (Pomponius Mela, and J. Solinus Polyhistor, for example) 

 which describe the peculiarities of the Irish soil and cli- 

 mate eighteen centuries ago, almost as we should depict them 

 now. But the influence of the Gulf-stream does not stop 

 even here. The climate it may be said to convey is diffused, 

 more or less, over the whole Norwegian coast; the aspects 

 and produce of which singularly contrast with those of the 

 corresponding latitudes in North America, Greenland, and 

 Siberia. Other causes doubtless contribute to this effect; 

 but none, we apprehend, so largely or unceasingly. 



The influence of the temperature of the Gulf-stream upon 

 animal life in the ocean is very curious. The whale so sedu- 

 lously shuns its warm waters, as almost to indicate their 

 track by its absence; while yet abundantly found on each 

 side of it. The physical reasons are doubtless the same 

 which prevent this great marine mammal from ever crossing 

 the Equator from one hemisphere to the other a fact now 

 well ascertained. The various species of fish, which are firm 

 and of excellent flavour in the colder belt of sea upon the 

 American coast, lose all their good qualities when taken out 

 of the Grulf-stream, running closely parallel to it. On the 



