222 SIR HENEY H. HOWOETH^ D.C.L.^ F.R.S., OJf ICE OR WATER. 



According to our author, Professor Dana was the originator 

 of the Epeirogenic theory (vol. i, p. 135), and his views are thus 

 concisely given : 



"Dana argued that the fiords which exist so much in 

 northern latitudes were valleys eroded by streams during a 

 formerly greater elevation of the land in high latitudes. 

 The culmination of this uplift, he argued, gave rise to a high 

 plateau climate, with abundant snow-fall, forming an ice-sheet. 

 This movement of elevation was followed by one of depression, 

 during which the ice-sheet was melted away ; and this again 

 was followed by another elevation, bringing the land to its 

 present height." 



These views are supported by Mr. Warren Upham, and I 

 may add are very closely in harmony with tliose 1 have 

 advocated for many years, and with those of Professor 

 Spencer. 



The key to the problem lies in the occurrence of an " Inter- 

 glacial " epocli, an epoch of depression succeeding that of high 

 elevation, and followed by a partially recurring cold period of 

 re-elevation. It seems to me that had our author recognised 

 these stages he would not have experienced the difficulties on 

 which he dwells: for example (p. 136), where he speaks of 

 Greenland, Scandinavia and North America being " at a much 

 lower level in the so-called glacial times than they are at 

 present." The evidence for this statement is derived (I 

 presume) from the occurrence of the raised beaches, with 

 marine shells at various places in these countries — but these 

 terraces are in fact post-glacial ; more recent than the later 

 glacial period, and certainly tlian the interglacial. 



In no part of the British Isles are the three divisions of the 

 drift deposits better shown than in the County of Lancashire, 

 with which Sir H. H. Howorth was so honourably connected 

 some years since* ; and out of the numerous sections of these 

 deposits I would point his attention to the fine section in the 

 valley of the Kibble, a few miles above Preston, which I figured 

 and described many years since. Here at a point where the 

 river makes a fine curve in its course, the banks rise to about 

 120 feet in height — the whole in drift deposits representing 

 the three stages above referred to. They are as follows, 

 downwards : 



* As M.P. for Salford. 



