166 
RAGNAROK. 
the earth. For a theory like this we must go back to the 
mythical age of Geology, and even the explosive caverns of 
De Luc are less astounding. 
The book then examines the nature and growth of myths 
and legends, gives a long and interesting account of the 
legends of various nations, and maintains that these are not 
only explicable by but actually point to the theory of a comet 
collision. In this part of the book we find the origin of its 
curious title. Ragnarok, meaning either “ the darkness of the 
gods ” or “ the rain of dust and ashes,” is the word used in 
some Scandinavian legends which record the coming of the 
comet. Then follow discursive discussions on the Book of 
Job and the Genesis narratives, wherein the comet is 
identified with the Satan of the former and the Serpent of 
the latter ; and in treating the Arabian myths two lovely 
pictorial illustrations of the gentleman are given. The 
author continues with an account of Biela’s comet, which he 
suggests was the cause of the great American fires in 1871 ; 
maintains that the earth has been struck by comets many 
times, thus causing the Appalachian Range of America, the 
Cambrian and Old Red conglomerates, the Lower Silurian 
boulders of Scotland, and sundry other specified strata ; and 
concludes by a highly religious epilogue on “ The After 
World,” which he especially commends to the consideration 
of the “ Dives ” of the present. 
It is impossible, within the limits of a brief review, to 
discuss the whole of these statements and reasonings, but 
the more important may with advantage be noted. The 
quotations from the numerous authors referred to are as 
jumbled and intermixed, without any regard to locality or 
time, as the Drift deposits themselves, and this fact does not 
tend to clearness of discussion. The authors quoted would, 
in some cases, certainly be surprised at the inferences drawn, 
or rather suggested, from their words. Concerning the four 
theories by which it has been attempted to explain the Drift, 
and which this book rejects, the first, viz., the Diluvial, may 
be put out of the question. There remain the action of ice¬ 
bergs, of glaciers, and of a continental ice sheet. Now each 
of these is undoubtedly a vera causa in actual operation on the 
earth’s surface at present, producing phenomena and results 
analogous to those found in the Drift deposits. There now 
is a continental ice sheet in Greenland and in the Antarctic 
regions, from which icebergs invade the northern and southern 
oceans. Most high mountains above the snow line are snow 
capped, and their glaciers descend into the valleys, carrying 
with them the materials of their moraines. To these three 
