168 J. D. Dana—Results of the Earth’s Contraction. 
Finally, a layer of crust-rock, miles in thickness, would have 
made over the great continental areas. Throughout the 
other portions of the sphere, the surface, whether all liquid or 
in incipient solidification, would have the level of that of the 
continental areas. For the sake of the illustration, suppose 
: probable that the excess has increased even in Cenozoic 
e. 
I find no explanation, in the present state of science, where- 
fore most of the dry land of the globe should have been located 
about the north pole, and of the water about the south. Phy- 
Sicists say that it indicates greater attraction, and therefore 4 
greater density, in the solid material beneath the southern 
ocean. But why the mineral ingredients should have been s0 
