460 Catastrophism and ” Evolution. [ August, 
which the crust yawned and enormous volumes of lava rolled out, 
overwhelming neighboring lands. Volcanoes proper are only 
isolated chimneys, imposing indeed, but insignificant when com- 
pared with the gulfs of molten matter which were thrown up in 
the great massive eruptions. Between the past and present vol- 
canic phenomena there is not only a difference of degree but of 
kind. It is easy to read the mild exhibition of existing volcanoes 
as a uniformitarian operation, namely, the growth of cones by 
slight accretions; but ‘such reasoning is positively forbidden in 
the past. ' 
If poor, puny little Vesuvius could immortalize itself by bury- - 
ing the towns at its feet, if the feeble energy of a Lisbon earth- 
quake could record itself on the grave-stones of thousands of men, 
then the volcanic period in Western America was truly catas- 
trophic. Modern vulcanism is but the faint, flickering survival 
of what was once a world-wide and immense exhibition of tellurie 
energy, one whose distortions and dislocations of the crust, whose 
deluges of molten stone, emissions of mineral dust, heated waters, 
and noxious gases could not have failed to exert destructive effect 
on the life of considerable portions of the globe. It cannot be 
explained away upon any theory of slow, gradual action, The 
simple field facts are ample proof of the intensity and sudden- 
ness of Tertiary vulcanism. 
Of climate catastrophes we have the record of at least one. 
When the theory of a glacial period came to be generally ac- 
cepted, and the destructive effects of the invasion of even middle 
latitudes by polar ice were realized, especially when the devas- 
tating effects of the floods which were characteristic of the re- 
cession of the ice came to be studied, uniformitarianism pure and 
simple received a fatal blow. I am aware that British students 
believe themselves justified in taking uniformitarian views of the 
bowlder-till, but they have yet to encounter phenomena of the 
scale of our Quaternary exhibitions. 
A most interesting comparison of the character and rate of 
stream erosion may be obtained by studying in the western Cor- 
dilleras, the river work of three distinct periods. “The geologist 
there finds preserved and wonderfully well exposed, first, Plio- 
cene Tertiary river valleys, with their bowlders, gravels, and 
sands still lying undisturbed in the ancient beds; secondly, the 
system of profound cañons, from 2000 to 5000 feet deep, which 
_ score the flanks of the great mountain chains, and form such a 
fascinating object of study, and not less of wonder, because the 
