The Pacific passage (Behring’s Strait) is becoming very narrow. The 
northernly action of the lands, and the contraction of the space as they 
approach the Arctic Circle, have apparently caused a lateral pressure, whic 
has squeezed the sedimentary beds of the United States into a series of 
narrow troughs, which represent the coal-seams hi the transverse section m 
the form of UUUs, thus reducing the space formerly occupied by the e 
to about one-fourth the width. The same effect is seen in Europe in the 
coal-beds of Belgium and Prussia. The beds of the coal-measures are 
squeezed so much as to represent in the sections very acute angles, and in 
several places the seams are actually seen in a perpendicular position. The 
seams of the sections in general appear like very acute WWW Ms. the 
original space, in many cases, has been reduced to from one-sixth to one- 
eighth. As regards the vertical primary rocks below, they can be well 
observed hi the north coast of Ireland and Scotland ; also in Norway The 
silicious bands become more compact and contracted, whilst the talcose, 
micaceous, and argillaceous bands are squeezed out and produce polished 
striae, which, on exposure, are often mistaken for the effects of the action 
of glaciers. There is also a rapid disintegration and decomposition of rocks 
going on as they approach the Arctic Circle, and the margin of the polar 
^With regard to the character of the terrestrial axis, whose ends are the 
points of emergence and convergence of all the circulating fluids of the 
Olobe, we cannot decide. We can only obtain approximate dimensions of 
the area of the ends by means of observations founded upon the angle of the 
dipping-needles and the diameter of the cone of the Aurora. According to 
such observations, the active polar axis is about. 20° in diameter. No Arctic 
explorer has been able yet to reach it, and actually to observe the operations 
ooina on there. We may, however, venture to assume that it is acting 
like 1 magnetic axis, as the perpetual circulation of the magnetic currents 
from pole to pole could not have continued without the action of such 
an axis As the globe is a semi-aqueous body, and not a mere ferrugi- 
nous magnetic shell, it is evident that it is not merely a magnetic globe 
but subject to a great electro-magnetic action ; and, if so, the axis would 
not only be the mere conductor of the returning magnetic currents, but the 
core of the terrestrial battery ; the ocean and all terrestrial substances would 
be decomposed at the North Pole, and be reproduced again at the South 
Pole in the same manner as by means of an electro-magnetic apparatus in a 
decomposing trough. This seems to be more probable than what has been 
suggested by some philosophers, namely, that the axis might not only e 
porous, but tubular, and thus would admit of the passage of all the sub- 
stances in solution from one end to the other. 
Although we cannot approach the south polar basin, we know that the sea 
comes from that pole in strong and continuous streams, as from a grea 
fountain, acting by impulses, and thus causing tidal waves. Many attempts 
have been made to account for the return of the Gulf Stream, or the ocean 
from the Arctic basin back to the south, and until very recently it was sup- 
