SYSTEM IjS the COUJRSES OF THE EAllTH S FEATUilE L]^"ES. 



39 



third branch, conforming in direction to the Australasian system, (a to h, 

 Fig. 24, are the same as M to G, Fig. 25.) 



In other words, the Caroline Archipelago forks at its southeastern 

 extremity, — one portion, the Gilbert, Radack, and Kalick Islands (8, 9, 10 

 in Fig. 24), conforming to the Polynesian system, while the great body of 

 the Caroline Islands trends off more to the westward (No. 11), parallel with 

 New Ireland and the Admiralty group {g, h of the same cut), and others of 

 the Australasian system. 



25. 



/ 1 I 



A, B, C, Sumatra and Java line of islands; D, Ceram; E, 

 north coast of New Guinea; F, South New Guinea; G, 

 Admiralty Islands; H, Louisiade group; I, Solomon; J, 

 Santa Cruz group; K, New Hebrides; L, Loyalty group; 

 M, New Caledonia; N, high lands of northeast Australia; 

 O, New Zealand; ab, northwest shore of Borneo; cd, 

 East Borneo; ef, west coast of Celebes; gh, west coast 

 of Gilolo. — D. 



N'ew Zealand chain. — The ranges in this chain are mentioned on page 37. 

 The whole length, from Macquarie Island, on the south, to Vavau, a volcanic 

 island terminating the Tonga range, on the north, is 2500 miles. To the 

 east of New Zealand lie Chatham Island, Beverly, Campbell, and Emerald, 

 which correspond to another range in the chain. 



This transverse chain is at right angles with the Polynesian system at 

 the point where the two meet. Moreover, it is nearly central to the ocean. 

 The central position, great length, and rectangularity to the northwest 

 ranges give great significance to this New Zealand or northeasterly system 

 of the ocean. 



(2) Islands of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. — The trend of the Pacific 

 Ocean as a whole corresponds with that of its central chain of islands, and 

 very nearly with the mean trend of the whole. It is a vast channel, elon- 

 gated to the northwest. The range of heights along northeastern Australia 

 (N, Fig. 25) runs northwesterly and passes by the head of the great gulf 

 (Carpentaria) on the north ; and the opposite side of the ocean along North 

 America, or its bordering mountain chain, has a similar mean trend. A 

 straight line drawn from northern Japan through the eastern Paumotus to 



