the basin of the St. Lawrence; the largest of them is Lake Champlain', 128 miles long. The lakes of New Hampshire and Maine belong to the Atlantic declivity. In the southern part of the Mississippi basin, Lakes Pontchartrāin', Borgne, and others fall into the Gulf of Mexico.

191. In the Pacific declivity on the first terrace, in California, are the Tule Lakes; and in Utah, on the second terrace, are the Great Salt Lake, Ū'tah Lake, and Pyramid Lake, which have no outlet to the sea.

§ 7. PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE WEST INDIES.

192. As a natural division Central America comprises all the territory between the Isthmuses of Tehuän'tepec and Panamä'. It extends from north-west to south-east, about 1200 miles, varying in breadth from 20 to 400 miles.

193. The line of the Pacific coast is comparatively regular, but on the northern an eastern side the coast line is very much broken. The Peninsula of Yucatăn' projects north to Cape Cato'che, having the Bay of Campe'che and Gulf of Mexico on the west and north, with the Caribbean Sea and Bay of Honda'ras on the east. From the Bay of Hondu'ras the coast extends east to Cape Grä'cias a Dios; thence southerly to the Isthmus of Panamä'.

194. Central America is not traversed by any very distinct mountain chain, but elevated plateaus occupy its central parts, forming a kind of communication between the Rocky Mountains of North America and the Andes of South America. The highlands descend more precipitously on its western side, but to the north and east the country slopes gradually. The whole territory consists of three distinct groups, divided by valleys which run from sea to sea. They are Cos'ta Rî'ca in the south-east, the group of Honduras and Nicarä'gua in the middle, and Guatemala in the north and

west.

195. In Cōs'ta Rî'ca there are table lands of more than 3000 feet height, narrow and chain-like, with the Cordillê'ra de Verä'gua, about 9000 feet, and many volcanoes. In Guatemä'la the table lands are larger, and occur in many terraces, 191. Lakes of the Pacific declivity. 192. Central America as a natural dision. Extent. 193. Its coast line. Peninsula of Yugatan. The coast om the Bay of Honduras. 194. Reliefs of Central America. Slopes. Natal divisions of the country. - 195. Of Costa Rica. Of Guatemala. — 196.

containing large savannas and magnificent forests, bordered on the coast by a series of isolated volcanoes.

196. The Volcä'no de Ä'gua, 15,000 feet high, is a perfect cone, verdant to its summit. It occasionally pours forth torrents of boiling water and stones. The old city of Guatemä'la has been twice destroyed by it. Altogether, there are thirty-nine volcanoes in Central America.

197. In the large plain of Nicarä'gua is the Lake Nicarä'gua. It is about 130 feet above the level of the Pacific, and discharges its waters by the San Juän' River into the Caribbē'an Sea. All the large rivers of Central America flow north-east and east.

198. The WEST INDIAN ISLANDS, which are regarded as once forming a part of the continent of America, are divided into three distinct groups the Lesser Antilles', the Greater Antilles', and the Baha'ma Islands. Some of the Lesser Antîlles' are flat, but their general character is bold, with a single mountain, or group of mountains, in the centre, which slopes to the sea all around.

199. Trinidad' is the most southerly of a line of magnificent islands, which form a semicircle, enclosing the Caribbe'an Sea. The line is single to the Island of Guadaloupe', where it divides into two chains. Trinidăd', Tobä'go, St. Lú'cia, and Dominî'ca are particularly mountainous, and the mountains are cut by deep, narrow ravines, covered by ancient forests.

200. Most of the volcanic islands have conical mountains, and are in the single part of the chain. Nearly all the Lesser Antîlles' have a large portion of excellent soil in a high state of cultivation. Most of them are surrounded by coral reefs, which render navigation dangerous. These islands terminate north with the group of the Virgin Islands.

201. The group of the Greater Antilles' comprises the four largest and finest of all the West Indies. PORTO RICO has wooded mountains running from east to west through the centre, extensive savannas in the interior, and very rich soil on the northern coast.

202. HAYTI, 340 miles long, 132 broad, has a chain of mountains in its centre, extending from east to west, like all the mountains in this group, the highest point of which is 9000 feet above the sea. A branch diverges from the main stem

Volcano de Agua. Number of volcanoes. 197. Of lakes and rivers of Central America.-198. The West Indies. How regarded. How grouped. Of the Lesser Antilles. - 199. Trinidad and other islands.-200. Volcanic islands. 201. The Greater Antilles. Porto Rico. 202. Hayti. 203. Jamaica.

south and west to Cape Tiburōn', so that Hay'ti contains a great proportion of high land. The mountains are suscepti ble of cultivation nearly to the summit.

The extensive

plains are well watered, and the soil productive.

203. JAMAICA belongs to the British government, and is chiefly valuable for its sugar plantations. The principal chain of the Blue Mountains lies in the centre, with offsets which cover all the eastern part of the island. The elevated ridges are flanked by lower ranges, descending to verdant savannas. Not more than a twentieth part of the island is level ground.

204. CUBA, the largest of the West Indies, is 648 miles long, and from 25 to 107 miles in breadth. Area, 31,468 square miles. Its mountains, which rise to the height of 7000 feet, occupy the centre, and fill the eastern part of the island. Though much of the low ground is swampy and unhealthy, there are rich valleys and extensive fertile plains. About a seventh part of the island is cultivated. The coast is so beset with coral reefs, sand banks, and rocks, that but a small part of it is accessible. There are, however, several excellent harbors.

205. The BAHAMA ISLANDS Comprise about 500, many of them mere rocks; twelve are rather large, and are cultivated. They produce logwood and mahogany.

§ 8. GEOLOGY OF NORTH AMERICA.

206. The geological structure of the highlands of this continent, particularly those of Mexico and Central America, is distinguished by some remarkable peculiarities. The Alleghanies present their scarp or steepest side to the east, where granite, gneiss, and other primitive rocks are seen. Upon these lie, first, a thin formation of transition rocks dipping to the westward; and next a series of secondary rocks, including a very extensive coal formation, which reaches from Pittsburg to far beyond the Mississippi River. The Ozark' Mountains exhibit similar strata in the same order and position, and therefore probably consist of a western portion of the same beds raised to the surface by a slip or dislocation. In the Rocky Mountains primitive rocks are found in the centre or axis of the chain, with old red sandstone, coal, and new red sandstone, containing rock salt, leaning against its sides. A great

204. Cuba. 205. Bahamas. 206. Geology of North America. The Alle

tract to the eastward of this chain is covered with granitic sands, and near the bed of the Mississippi there is a deep formation of alluvium. The Mexican table lands consist chiefly of transition slaty rocks, intermixed with which are two species of limestone, and enormous masses of porphyry, trachyte, sienite, basalt, and other rocks of volcanic origin. The veins of silver and gold are found chiefly in the older porphyry, the granular limestone, the sienite, and the transition slates.

207. The coal fields of the states are of prodigious extent. The ascertained areas of the coal formation are as follows: In Alabä'ma, 3400 square miles; Georgia, 150; Tennessee', 4300; Kentucky, 13,500; Virginia, 21,195; Maryland, 550; Ohio, 11,900; Indiana, 7700; Illinois, 44,000; Pennsylvania, 15,437; Michigan', 5000; and Missouri, 6000. The coal east of the highest Allegha'nies generally takes the form of ăn'thracite, while west and in the valleys of the great central rivers it is bitu'minous.

TABLE OF MINERALS IN NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

GOLD. - United States, (California, Carolinas, Georgia,) Mexico, (Northwestern States,) and Central America.

SILVER.- United States, (in the lead districts of Lake Superior, &c.,) Mexico, (Central States,) and Central America.

ZINC, TIN, AND MERCURY.

COPPER.

LEAD.

United States, (California,) and in Mexico.

United States, (New Jersey, New York, and in the regions of Lake
Superior, &c.,) and in Mexico.

United States (Illinois, Missouri, New York, &c.) and Mexico.

IRON. - United States, (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Carolina, &c.,) Canada, (the mines of St. Maurice, &c.,) Mexico, and Central America.

COAL. - Anthracite : Pennsylvania, &c. Bituminous: Throughout the Western States; Nova Scotia, and Cape Bret'on Island.

SALT.- United States, (New York, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and California,) Mexico, (Oaxä'ca, &c.,) and in Central America.

ghanies. The Ozark Mountains. The Rocky Mountains. The Mexican table lands.-207. The coal fields. Two descriptions of coal.

§ 9. QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW.

208. What general form of contôur' has North America?

What features in the reliefs of the continent seem to have determined its outline?

What three mountain systems in North America?

Which is the most extensive?

Of what grand range is it a part?

What range runs nearly parallel to the Rocky Mountains.on the western border?

What is the position of the Alleghā'nies? Their length? Their average height?

Name the principal ridges in order from east to west?

Which of these is longest? Which highest?

What outpost of the Allegha'nies in New England?

Which are the two loftiest summits of the Allegha'nies? The height and situation of each ?

Which is the lowest portion of this system?
How far is the Blue Ridge from the Atlantic?
What is the average breadth of the Allegha'nies?

On which side is the shortest slope?

How is the eastern slope divided?

Under what names is the Blue Ridge continued north-eastward from the Pennsylvania line?

What determines the course of the River St. Lawrence?

Trace the watershed south of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence. What is the general direction of the rivers flowing from the Atlantic declivity ?

Name the five river systems of this continent.

From what elevation do the head waters of the Mississippi flow?
What are the latitude and longitude of this "height of land"?
Which are the chief tributaries of the Mississippi from the Allegha'nies?
Is their current swift or gentle ? And why?

What affluents of the Mississippi flow from the Rocky Mountains? Trace the watershed which divides the head waters of the Mackenzie River and Hudson's Bay from those of the St. Lawrence and Mississippi. By what is the western slope of the Allegha'nies characterized?

What marks the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains?

What basin is formed by these two slopes ?

From what mountain knot does the Rio del Norte flow?

What river basins west of the Rocky Mountains?

What two noted gaps in the Californian coast range?

What forms the basin of the Cōl'ville River?

Which is the most extensive plateau in North America? Describe it. What contrast is presented by the mouths of the Mississippi and Mackenzie Rivers ?

How do you account for this?

Which of the mountain ranges rise above the snow line in the temperate zone ?