10 
tute. Astronomers will continue to be perplexed 
results of their observations until they have corrected their 
tables of refraction, and adopted the now well established 
superficial movement, instead of the reeling or conical motion oj 
the terrestrial axis, which has not a single physical fact to sup- 
port it. The Astronomer Eoyal, m his report for 1861, remarked 
that “ the transit circle and collimators still present those ap- 
pearances of agreement between themselves, and oi change 
with respect to the stars, which seem explicable only on one 
of two suppositions — that the ground itself shifts wrili respect 
to the general Earth ; or that the axis of rotation changes its 
P °We have innumerable proofs of the land's upheaving, sub- 
siding, and shifting, but none whatever as regards any changes 
in the position of the axis. . , 
I shall next refer to the lands of the southern hemisphere. 
The conditions of that part of the globeare very different to 
those in the northern hemisphere. With the e * oe P tlon 
of a small part of the south of New Zealand and Pat - 
gonia, there are no lands in the Antarctic Sea, but mere patches 
of sands, gravel, and icebergs — scenes of barrenness and 
desolation— to the latitude of 45° S. In the north, between 
the parallel of 45° latitude N. and the Arctic basin, are situated 
all Europe as far as Spain and Italy. Also Siberia, Tarta^and 
the northern part of China. Likewise nearly all the Bntish 
possessions of North America. We have to advance from the 
south as far as the tropics— say to the latitude of 20 b. 
before we can obtain sufficient area of habitable lands m th 
part of the globe to investigate their geological formations, so 
as to form a correct opinion of their general character an 
probable ages. The parallel of 20° lat. S. wil embrace New 
Zealand, Tasmania, about two-thirds of Australia, the Cape of 
Good Hope, and the southern part of South America. A 
general description of the deposits of these countries has been 
already given, therefore need not be repeated on this occasion. 
In the sedimentary deposits of the northern hemisphere are 
the remains of the flora and fauna of the semi-tropical and 
tropical climates, and not those flourishing m , the northerly 
zones in which the deposits are now seen. The relics of the 
past entombed below are totally uncongenial to tne climates of 
higb. northern latitudes. . ~ • 
In the south, on the contrary, the organic remains found m 
the deposits correspond with those now living m the same regions 
In Australia, New Zealand, and the southern part of South 
America are growing most luxuriantly arborescent ferns, 
Cycadeee, Araucarise, and various conifers. The coasts abound 
