V. 
THE GROWTH OF CONTINENTS. 
B EFORE entering upon a sketch of the growth 
of the European Continent from the earliest 
times until it reached its present dimensions and 
outlines, I will say something of the growth of 
continents in general, connecting these remarks 
with a few words of explanation respecting some 
geological terms, which, although in constant use, 
are nevertheless not clearly defined. I will ex- 
plain, at the outset, the meaning I attach to them 
and the sense in which I use them, that there 
may be no misunderstanding between me and my 
readers on this point. The words Age, Epoch. 
Period, Formation, may be found on almost every 
page of any modern work on geology ; but if we 
sift the matter carefully, we shall find that there 
is a great uncertainty as to the significance of 
these terms, and that scarcely any two geologists 
use them in the same sense. Indeed, I shall not 
be held blameless in this respect myself ; for, on 
looking over preceding articles, I find that I have, 
from old habit, used somewhat indiscriminately 
