8 



THE STOEY OF THE EARTH AND MAN. 



proved telescopes to be really clusters of stars, and 

 it was inferred that tlie others might bo of like 

 character. Tho spectroscope has, however, more 

 recently shown that some nebulae are actually gaseous ; 

 and it has even been attempted to demonstrate that 



Figs. 1 to 5. Ideal sections illustrating the Genesis of the Earth. 



Fig. 1. A vaporous world. 



Fig. 2. A world with a central fluid nnclc-Tis (fc) and a photosphere (a). 



Fig. 3. The photosphere darkened, and a solid crust (c) and solid 

 aucleus (d) formed. 



Fig. 4. Water (e) deposited on the crust, forming a universal ocean. 



Fig. 5. The crust crumpled by shrinkage, land elevated, and the water 

 occupying the intervening depressions. 



The figures are all of uniform s'lze ; but the circle (A) shows the 

 diameter of the globe when in the state of fig. 1, and that marked (B) 

 its diameter when in the state of fig. 5. In all the figures (a) represents 

 vapour or air; (6) liquid rock; (c) solid rock as a crust; (d) solid 

 nucleus { ;) water. 



