Geology. 125 
As regards the northern hemisphere, we have two immense 
oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic, extending from the equator 
to near the north pole, or perhaps to the pole altogether. Between 
these two oceans lie two great continents, the eastern and the high 
ern. Owing to the earth's spherical form. by far too much hea 
received at the equator and by far too little at high latitudes te 
make the earth a suitable habitation for sentient beings. Th 
function of these two great oceans is to remove the heat from the 
equator and carry it to oe and polar regions. Aérial cur- 
rents could not do this. The a might remove the heat from the 
into nae space: the ocean can sgt convey the heat to distant 
shores. But aérial currents have a most important function; for 
of wha avail would it be, though ae oi should carry heat 
to high latitudes, if there were no mean s of spreading the heat 
the Atlantic from temperate and polar regions and place them at 
the equator, and nothing now existing on the globe could live in 
pee th 
hes o great oceans placed beside each other on one 
side of the elobe: and the two great continents placed beside each 
be suitable for the present order of things: the land on the central 
and on the eastern Po of the united continent would be by far 
too cold. 
Il. GEOLOGY. ° 
extracts from a work of the pete title by Dr. Maydeu. which is 
soon to be published by Julius Bien of New York.* The volume 
will contain at Oe photographic views along the line of the Pacific 
railroad from ‘a to Sacramento, and besides a description of 
been chronicled in 1 this Journal. We understand that the views 
selected for Aamo roy are generally those mes illustrate the geo- 
graphical and geological features of the region, and are interesting 
to the student of bra as well as to the artist and the lovers of 
the picturesque in 
Commun nieaiods on the Fossil Plants, Mammals, Fishes, Insects, 
&c., have been contributed by Messrs, Newberry, Leidy, Cope, and 
* The work will be issued to subscribers only, at 
should be addressed to Julius Bien, Hithonvauher, at 18 Park at Soe re 
