164 Guyot on the Contrast in the Physical Features 
world, centuries ago; and not the New World of history, of 
which we shall have to speak later, that has come to plant itself 
on that soil. 
A general comparison of the two groups of continents, will 
call to mind some of the leading features we have already become 
oa Smt with, ~~ eiee still others. 
orld and the New World differ in the groupings, 
and in ihe number as extent of the continents composing them ; 
in their astronomical situation, with respect to the climatic zones ; 
in the general direction of their lands; in their interior structure. 
This assemblage of opposite "eit secures to.each of them 
a climate, a vegetation, and an animal kingdom, peculiarly their 
own 
‘uF 
I say first, in their groupings :— . 
The Old World is composed of four oo Setting aside 
Australia, which is only an island in the midst of the oceanic 
hemisphere, it numbers three, all very near Dae other, aggrega- 
-. . extent of land, the most vast, the most unbroken, the least ac- 
“a cessible in its centre to the influences of the ocean. ‘The 
4 orld is preéminently the continental world. 
See The New World has only two continents, North America and 
“¢ South America, America and Columbia, as I should like to call 
'. thetm—to render justice where right belongs—if it were not for- 
bidden to change names consecrated by long usage. These two 
cottinents ‘are not grouped in one mass, nor placed side by side, 
but separatéd”from each other, not touching upon their long sides, — 
put by their exterior angles, standing i in lime, rather than grouped. 
; They are situated.in two opposite hemispheres, and thus more 
ae, : fheneinbied slénder form we see in the New. World. “No portion 
Ta" +. of the interilor-is very remote from the sea-eoasts ; eta zs 
~s- e mtidst : 
- it is placed, ikea long island. This form 
with that of t 1d World, ‘Bives to Jt its" charact 
“World is essentially oceanic. e 
oe. The ‘astronomical position, ‘rela vel to the 
4 also not the sam e ip the twogw be i 
