Change of Ocean Temperature. 93 
African continent lies so far to the north, that it can in fact 
intercept but a small part of the southern current, which 
consequently to a large extent passes on south of the Cape ; 
yet this small part produces the wonderful effects pointed 
out.* 7 . ; 
Suppose now, that by a change of level, America were to 
terminate in latitude 34°.S., and Africa in latitude 56° S.: 
the relation of the two, and of the cold influences of the cur- 
rents adjoining, would be entirely changed. The vast area 
in the South Pacific, embraced between the west South * 
American coast and the isocryme of 74°,—which marks the 
influence in the colder season of the cold southern waters, 
though not by any means its extreme limit,—would, if trans- 
ferred to the Atlantic equatorial regions, stretch nearly or 
quite across from Guinea to the East Cape of South America ; 
and the line of 68° would sweep around north of the equator 
quite to mid-ocean. The actual extent of the change may 
be perceived with close accuracy if we transfer the isocrymal 
lines off this part of Western America to the Atlantic. In 
the Pacific, under the same circumstances, the line of 68° 
would nowhere reach within several degrees of the equator. 
The distribution of marine life would be greatly changed. 
While now. the west coast of South America is, as regards 
the ocean, one of the coldest regions for the latitude in the 
world, it would become very much moderated, and a con- 
siderable portion of coast would be bordered by tropical 
waters. Along by Lima, and far south, there might be coral 
reefs. In the Atlantic, on the contrary, the Gulf of Guinea 
now characterized by torrid waters, would be filled with the 
colder seas of the temperate zone, and true tropical life 
would be altogether excluded. 
The influence also on the Gulf Stream would be very 
decided, and the whole North Atlantic would feel the change. 
It is a remarkable fact, that while the west coast of 
America is bordered in the tropical part by cold waters, 10° 
| * We find that at the recent meeting of the British Association, Mr A. G. 
| Findlay, in the course of a paper on the oceanic currents of the Atlantic and 
Pacific, takes the common view that the Lagulhas current is the origin of the 
current that flows up the West African coast, a view shewn to be untenable. 
