48 PEOF, EDWARD HULL, LL.D., F.E.S., P.G.S., ON 



as it falls. In the case of fresh water lakes it is otherwise. 

 Here the water of the streams which enter the lake is at least 

 partially discharged by means of rivers flowing ont, in con- 

 sequence of Avhich the water remains fresh, as the saline 

 ingredients are carried away as fast as they are delivered. 

 Of these two varieties of inhmd lakes we have remarkable 

 examples in the case of the Dead Sea and the Sea of Gralilee. 

 In the former case the river Jordan entering at the northern 

 end keeps up a constant supply, but this lake, which is about 

 1,292 feet below the level of the Mediterranean, has no 

 outlet, in consequence of Avhich the water supplied by the 

 Jordan passes away into the atmosphere in the state of 

 vapour. In the case of the Sea of Galilee it is otherAvise. 

 The river which enters at the north passes out again at the 

 south ; hence the Avater of the lake is fresh and supports an 

 abundant fauna of fishes and molluscs, while the Avaters of 

 the Dead Sea are (as the name indicates) absolutely destitute 

 of living beings, and fish entering it from the Jordan imme- 

 diately perish. If there had been an outlet to the south- 

 wards from the Dead Sea into the Galf of Akabah, and a 

 continuous stream had been flowing from the time the de- 

 pression A^^as formed, the w^aters of the Dead Sea would haA^e 

 only differed from those of the Sea of Galilee by a someAvhat 

 greater proportion of salts and carbonates. Several other 

 examples might be cited, but those of the Sea of Galilee and 

 the Dead Sea are the most familiar and striking. 



12 There are two Avays by Avhich we may account for the 

 salinity of the ocean Avaters from very early periods of 

 geological time. First, by supposing that the primasval 

 Avaters were saturated Avith acid gases Avhich Avere held in 

 auspension in the A^apour surrounding the incandescent 

 globe ; or secondly, that the salinity resulted from a process 

 resembling that by Avhich salt lakes of the present day liaA^e 

 been formed.* 



* Of the former uietliod Dr. Sterry Hunt may be cousidered the chief 

 exponent, and in order that I may not unintentionally misrepresent his 

 views I will give them here in nearly his OAvn words. Referring to that 

 period in the i^hysical history of our globe in which it may be presumed 

 to have been in a molten state suriouuded by an atmosphere and an 

 envelope of vapour of water, he says : — " There would be the conversion of 

 all the carbonates, chloiides and sul]ihates into silicates, and the separa- 

 tion of the carbon, chlorine and sulphur in the form of acid gases whicli, 

 with nitrogen, vapour of water, and a probable excess of oxygen could 

 form the dense primteval atmosphere. The resulting fused mass would 

 contain all the bases as silicates, and must have resembled (when consoli- 



