Eee 
Se tn ces ema _Y 
J. D. Dana on Changes of Level in the Pacific Ocean. 165 
ures.’” Mr. Hale hence infers “that the land, or the whole 
group of Banabe, and perhaps all the neighboring groups, have 
undergone a slight depression.” He also states respecting a small 
islet near Ualan, “ From the description given of Leilei, a change 
of level of one or two feet would render it uninhabitable, and re- 
duce it, in a short time, to the same state~as the isle of ruins at 
nabe.” 2 
Period of the subsidence.—The period during which these 
the facts on this point presented in our review of the geographi- 
cal distribution of corals, (xiii, 338,) since we cannot speak from 
Personal observation. ges : 
_ The subsidence has probably for a considerable period ceased 
1 Most if not all parts of the ocean, and subsequent elevations 
of many islands and groups have taken’ place which we sha 
Soon consider. In some of the Northern Carolines, the Pesca- 
dores, and perhaps sotne of the Marshall Islands, the proportion 
of dry land is so very small compared with the great extent of 
the atoll, that there is reason to suspect a slow sinking even at 
ue Present time: and it is a fact of special interest in connection 
With it that this region is neat the axial line of greatest depres- 
Sion, where, if in anny part, the action should be longest continued. 
Among the Kingsmills and Panmotns there is no reason what- 
ever for Stipposing that a general subsidence is still in progress; 
changes indicated are of a contrary character. 
. +A results to which we have here been led obviously differ: 
10 many particulars from the deductions of Mr. Darwin. 
2. Elevations of Modern Eras in the Pacific. 
Since the period of subsidence, the history of which has oecu- 
Pred us In the preceding pages, there has been no equally gen 
Stcox Szems, Vol. XV, No. 44.—March, 1853. 22 
