K. Pettersen — The Rise and Fall of Continents. 299 



grown on the surface with moss, which mossy cover is intersected 

 crosswise with furrows, caused by the water purling down from 

 above. At the first glance the surface appears as an infinite 

 number of molehills, cut separately, and spread irregularly all 

 over the plain. By this constant digging out, the original furrows, 

 notwithstanding their distinct and regular course, when seen from 

 above, have been effaced to the view so much, that you have some 

 difficulty in discerning most of them when you walk across the plain. 



From the sea upwards you will meet, at first, four successive fur- 

 rows, at a distance from one another of about 3 metres. From the 

 fourth one there is an interval of 13 metres to the next, that has 

 been traced. This furrow is very distinct, and may be pursued 

 longitudinally for 70 metres. Above this one I have found still 

 eight more furrows at different intervals, the highest of which lies 

 about 8 metres above the surface of the sea. It is very probable, 

 however, that there are many furrows besides the above mentioned 

 that have not yet been traced, or have perhaps been effaced. 



When seen from above at least, the furrows appeared, however, 

 close to each other, and seemed to follow each other at more regular 

 distances. 



There can be no doubt, it seems, that these furrows have been 

 formed by the surf. Where our shores are made of fine sand or 

 crushed shells, you will frequently find one or even several succes- 

 sive ridges, like walls, running parallel to the beach, caused by 

 the lashing of the waves, that heap the sand in long drifts, lying in 

 one level. 



The uppermost of those lines on our present coast generally indi- 

 cates the highest spring tide. 



When seen from above, there is a striking likeness between the 

 before-mentioned furrows and the ridges on the present beach. 



With regard to our Arctic regions, it has already been proved some 

 time ago, that the rise of the land, for the last 10 to 12 metres at 

 least, must have been effected slowly and evenly. Those proofs may 

 be found in the frequently appearing banks of shell, that rise, in 

 some places without interruption, from the present shore up to a 

 height of about 10 metres. 



What we have said about the furrows at Skatoeren seems to prove, 

 still more decidedly, that the rise has gone on by degrees and 

 uniformly. Such perfect preservation of a series of successive 

 shore-lines or margins admits of no supposition of a violent or 

 sudden change of level. 



As to the question of the secular rise or fall of the continent, 

 relatively to the level of the sea, it has been considered long ago a 

 scientific fact amongst most geologists, that during this change the 

 surface of the sea has been, on the whole, unchangeable. John 

 Playfair was, it is well known, the first who held this in his " Illus- 

 trations of the Huttonian Theory," published 1802. In that work he 

 even mentions the slow rise of Sweden. Quite independent of that 

 book, Leopold v. Buch comes to the same result. In his publication 

 of 1810, " Journey through Norway and Lapland," he accentuates the 



