COASTAL CHANGES IN ASIA AND EUROPE. 103 



times a considerable elevation, but tbe prevailinp; absence of river-valleys 

 (lei)rivcs us of tbe evidence wbicb we obtain from tbe flooding of tbe 

 same. Tbe only valley wbicb could afford a test, tliat of tbe Nile, bas 

 long been overflUed and bas a salient delta, from wliicb fact it is clearly 

 evident tbat sligbt depressions of tbe surface would not produce an 

 embayment. 



Australia, — Australia, owing to tbe relativel}^ small size of its rivers, 

 due to its prevailing small rainfall, a feature wbicb bas probably been 

 long continued, does not afford a favorable field for tbe discussion of tbe 

 evidence of subsidence tbrougb tbe facts wliicb are afforded by flooded 

 valleys. 



Tbe rarity of coastal islands sucb as are normally produced by tbe in- 

 vasions of tbe sea also serves to indicate tbat in modern geologic times 

 tbis continent bas not long stood above its present level. It appears, witb 

 Africa, to be of all tbe great lands among tbe least subjected to recent 

 depressions. 



Asia. — Tbe soutbern coast of Asia bas few reentrants wbicb ai)pear to 

 afford any evidence of valley-flooding. Tbe deltas are of tbe salient tyi)e — 

 tbat is, tbey bave extended beyond tbe termini of tbe valleys in wdiicb 

 tbey lie. Wbile existing evidence is as yet too meager to warrant ex- 

 tended statements concerning tbe cbanges of level wbicb bave occurred 

 along tbe sbores, nevertbeless tbe pbenomenon cited, togetber wdtb sucb 

 otber data as I can command appears to indicate tbat tbe land about tbe 

 Indian ocean bas not recentl}^ been higber tban it is at present. 



On tbe eastern coast of Asia tbe evidence points to a considerable, 

 relatively modern subsidence, tbougli tbe amount of it does not appear 

 to have been anything like as great as that which has occurred along 

 the shores of tlie North Atlantic ocean. The delta accumulations near 

 the mouths of the valleys are considerable, but they do not have the 

 comidete salient form. Along tbe sbores there are found numerous out- 

 lying islands, tbe existence of wbicb can best be accounted for upon the 

 theory of a recent submergence of a land topography. ^loreover, the 

 distril)ution of the organic life on these isolated areas points to the con- 

 clusion tbat tbey have in relatively modern periods been connected with 

 the main shore. 



Europe. — On tbe whole, the continent of Europe affords tbe clearest 

 indications of extensive subsidence, in comparatively recent times, tbat 

 are presented b}' any of tlie great land areas. Tlie greater [)art of its 

 river valleys are flooded at their moutlis, only four or five of them cxbil)- 

 iting tbe phenomena of salient deltas, while; tb(3 numerous islands have 

 faunas and Ibjrasso like tlioseof the mainland that there seems noesca2:>e 



