[227] Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., June, 1866, p. 564.
[228] Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxi., p. 186.
[229] “Geological Observer,” p. 446. See also Mr. James Geikie’s valuable Memoir, “On the Buried Forests and Peat Mosses of Scotland.” Trans. of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol. xxiv., and Chambers’ “Ancient Sea-Margins.”
[230] See Lyell’s “Antiquity of Man,” Second Edition, p. 282; “Elements,” Sixth Edition, p. 162.
[231] In order to determine the position of the solstice-point in relation to the aphelion, it will not do to assume, as is commonly done, that the point makes a revolution from aphelion to aphelion in any regular given period, such as 21,000 years; for it is perfectly evident that owing to the great irregularity in the motion of the aphelion, no two revolutions will probably be performed in the same length of period. For example, the winter solstice was in the aphelion about the following dates: 11,700, 33,300, and 61,300 years ago. Here are two consecutive revolutions, the one performed in 21,600 years and the other in 28,000 years; the difference in the length of the two periods amounting to no fewer than 6,400 years.
[232] Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxvii., p. 232. See also “The Last Glacial Epoch of Geology,” by the same author.
[233] Quart. Journ. of Science, October, 1874.
[234] The longer diameter passes from long. 14° 23′ E. to long. 165° 37′ W.
[235] “Principles,” vol. i., p. 294. Eleventh Edition.