Geology 433 



Chainplain are to be looked for; and at least, in every thousand miles of 

 such sea coast, some estuary or shore deposits might be reasonably expected. 



While therefore, this important kind of evidence is wanting over this 

 continent; and while it is not shown that icebergs could make the scor- 

 ings of the rocks ; and while it is not clear that a submergence of the 

 northern part of North Ameiica could be a period oi unusual glacier cold 

 for the world when the effect of submerging northern lands it is known 

 would mitigate cold, we have some reason for doubtuig the supposed sub- 

 mergence of the continent in the drift period. 



This subject should be considered from every point of view. While con- 

 strained to differ in some few points from the memoir of Prof. Hitchcock 

 we commend it as abounding in valuable observations. J. d. d. 



3. Outlines of the Confidents. — At the meeting of the American Asso- 

 ciation at Montreal, Prof. Peirce pointed out a relation between the direc- 

 tion of the coast-lines of the continents and the Arctic and Antarctic 

 cii'cles. The coast-lines, according to the view, lie in great circles that 

 ^re tangents to these polar circles. Consequently if either pole of a ter- 

 restrial globe be elevated 23° 28' so that the horizon becomes such a tan- 

 gent great circle, and then the globe be slowly revolved, these coast-lines, 



as they pass the horizon circle, will be found approximately to coincide with 

 it in direction. Elevating the north pole, and revolving in one direction, 

 eastern North America makes this coincidence, and in the other direction 

 western North America; and so for other great outlines of the land. He 

 regarded this remarkable relation (23° 28' being the obliquity of the 

 ecliptic) as evidence that the sun by influencing in some way the cooling 

 of the crust, had determined the grand outlines of the globe. We wait 

 for a full announcement of his views before giving further details. 



These facts had been announced in Boston journals a few months pre- 

 vious. Shortly after their first appearance in print, the work of Professor 

 R. Owen of Kentucky, entitled '^Key to the Geology of the Globe," was 

 published in New York City — a work noticed in the number of this 

 Journal for last July (this volume, p. 158); and it contains on page 36 

 a mention of the same relation and a similar elucidation by reference to 

 a globe. Prof Peirce alluded to this in conversation with us at Montreal 

 In the use of the observation tlie views of this work diverge from those 

 of Prof. Peirce. 



4. Third Annual Report on the Geological Survey of the State of 

 ^ew Jersey for the ijear 1856. 80 pp., 8vo, Trenton, 1857.— The first 

 38 pages of this pamplilet are occupied by the report of the geologist, 

 "William Kitchell, the next 30 with the report for the year on the geologi- 

 cal survey of the southern division of the State by George II. Cook, As- 

 sistant State Geologist, and the remainder by a brief report of the State 

 Topographical Engineer, E. L. Viele. The magnetic iron ores and iron 

 furnaces of New Jersey are the subject of the first part of the volume, 

 ^nd many facts are brought out of practical value to the state. Prof. 

 Cook, besides other results of importance, gives several analyses of the 

 greensand and marls of New Jersey, which we propose to cite in a future 



Dumber of this Journal. 



The people of New Jersey have much to gain from the prosecution of 

 the geological survey which has been begun, and we trust that it will not 

 fail of the requisite support. 



SECO.\D SERIES, VOL. XXIV, NO. 75. — NOV., ISST. 



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