1889]. THE DISPLACEMENT OF BEACH-LINES. (VS 



Then we must recollect that in Palaeozoic and Mesozoic 

 eras the Moon was probably much nearer. The lunar-tide was, 

 in that case, in itself, much stronger and more powerful in re- 

 lation to the solar-tide than now. The sidereal day was shorter 

 and the stronger tidal wave acted more frequently. The shores 

 became more speedily destroyed. The formation of beds, doubt- 

 less, took place more rapidly. The sidereal day increased more 

 rapidly in length than now. All these relations must have had 

 influence both on the form of the Earth, the division of land and 

 sea, the displacement of the beach-lines, the changes of climate, 

 the ocean currents, the distribution of chemical and mechanical 

 sediments, and the alternation of strata, so that we cannot, 

 without taking all these and possibly yet other relations into 

 consideration, prove the applicability of the hypotheses to the 

 series of beds pertaining to the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic eras. 



Finally. I will, in a few words, refer to the chief points in 

 my hypothesis. 



The precession of the equinoxes and the periodical change 

 in the eccentricity of the terrestrial orbit are reflected on the 

 geological series of strata and are the key to the calculation of 

 the duration of epochs. ' 



The precession causes the winter and summer to be alter- 

 na tely longer and shorter. In the semi-period when winter is 

 longer than summer, the distinction between inland- and coast- 

 climate becomes more prominent. The currents of the atmo- 

 sphere become stronger. In consequence of that the 



strength, and that again : 



tlu' climate. 



climate produced by the preces- 

 but is sufficient to imprint itself in the al- 

 and in the formation of beach-lines, terraces, 

 etc. To each period of precession correspon s 



