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NOTICES OF AUTHORS. 



with the assistance of modern science ; and the re- 

 port that the Caspian is gradually overflowing her 

 shores, a probahle consequence of diminished evapo- 

 ration from decrease of heat. 



That this is not wholly owing to the moisture 

 and cold consequent to the moss formation, or to 

 any cover or want of cover to the earth, of timber, or 

 of any other plants which might possibly have effect 

 upon the temperature by shade, evolution of vege- 

 table heat, electric or meteoric agency, w^e think 

 proved, should the asserted fact be correct, that, in 

 the sm^all oes of Shetland, (so distant from any con- 

 siderable portion of land as not to be under these 

 influences, and so small, that the climate must be 

 solely dependant upon the sea), timber is found in the 

 morasses, although the climate will not now admit 

 of timber growing, being apparently equally deterio- 

 rated as that of the Mainland. It is not improbable 

 that the superior former climate of the North of 

 Scotland and Islands was owing to their having 

 formed, at one time, an extensive country, perhaps 

 joined to the continent, and thus partaking of the 

 continental climate, that is, having a colder wdnter 

 and warmer summer, capable of producing consider- 

 able vigour of arboreous vegetation, and not so fa- 

 vourable to the generating of that fixed vegetable 

 incubus, peat-moss, who has crept over, and folded 



