22 Geological Effects of a Varying Rotation of the Earth. [January, — 
Saghalien and Manchooria (Smidt), North China and Japan 
(Pumpelly) Alaska (Dal!), British Columbia (G. M. Dawson), 
California (Newberry), Hudson’s Bay region (Bell), North Green- 
land (Kane), Labrador (Packard), Nova Scotia (Hind), New Eng- 
land! (Shaler). 
In the southern hemisphere: Southern New Zealand (Haast), 
Southern Australia, Melbourne (Becker), Natal (Griesbach), Chili, 
Southern La Plata, and Patagonia (Darwin). 
Some exceptional regions may be mentioned. A few have al- 
ready been noted under a previous head, which may explain their 
occurrence. But the sinking of South Greenland, Southern Sweden, 
and others can scarcely be so explained. Itseems better to refer them 
to local foldings of the earth’s crust, which are progressing rapidly 
enough to neutralize the general elevation of higher latitudes. 
From this survey we come very readily to the conclusion, that 
the facts confirm our theory, for an acceleration of the earth’s 
rotation. Such, it will be remembered, is indicated by recent 
astronomical observations. And if it is objected, that it is believed 
that there has been a retardation for ages previous, we may reply, 
that the evidence is wanting, or at best, indecisive,? except for a 
very short time preceding this century. A brief counter- move= 
ment in a period of prevalent acceleration, would be no more than © 
our theory would provide for. : 
We may therefore glance backward through the ages to further 
test our theory. 
Sas =: OL hh ee ee ER PE Sr Sie ee ee ee ee ali 
ies Sas 
2. Changes in the Early Quaternary. 
Preceding the present epoch, most geologists find abundant 
evidence of a depression, in high latitudes, at least in the North- — 
ern hemisphere, and far below the present altitude. The evidence 
from the southern hemisphere, for obvious reasons, is not so 
abundant. Yet Darwin gives very clear evidence for this point, 
from Patagonia, and Haast reports a similiar movement in New — 
Zealand, and probably in southern Australia. There is equally : 
abundant and reliable evidence, of a period of elevation of the — 
$ a $ z = ee D wi EEA E A T TEA i 
PLA EL OT NOA EI S Be E A EAE O LASINEN E S A E E RA SI D a ee a Y E a), TSEN Sieg IES A a A AE OEE EE A SS ES SA E EAE A E E ENS A Oe Mee ee TSS A 
1 New England is stationary according to observations of the Coast Survey for q | 
1877. (Am. Purn. of Sci. (111), XXI, p. 77.) Therising of afew of the other coun- _ 
ports as at present rising or pipari (vide Corals and Coral islands) are to be re- 
ferred to such a case. 
