CnA.r. XIX.] THE SURFACK OF THE EARTH. 215 



along the line of the former equator. Then, sup- 

 posing the outer crust of the earth to be sufficiently 

 pliant, the configuration which the action of the 

 forces before described would tend to restore would be 

 modified by meridional undulations. For those un- 

 dulations which, before the change of axis, formed 

 the zones of land and water running parallel to the 

 old equator, would after that change of axis lie 

 meridionally, or at right angles to the new equator. 



In this new position, under the action of the 

 forces which caused the former configuration, a 

 portion of the former equatorial regions would be 

 sustained to form the new Antarctic continent, and 

 the opposite part depressed to form the basin of the 

 Arctic Ocean. And also, from the central parts of 

 one of the great oceans, there would gradually be 

 upraised the crest of the undulation which had 

 formed the old Antarctic continent ; and about the 

 central parts of the other of the great oceans there 

 would gradually be upraised the crest of the undula- 

 tion which had encircled the former Arctic Ocean. 

 The undulating tendency of lateral pressure, acted 

 upon by the actions of vis-inertia3 resulting from axial 

 rotation and orbital motion, would then tend to raise 

 a new series of meridional undulations intersecting, 

 at right angles, those previously raised by the action 

 of those same forces. 



If a portion of Brazil be supposed to have 

 formed at one time an Antarctic continent, then the 



