will be evident, if a board be held perpendicularly before a fire. It will then receive a body of rays equal to its breadth. But if it be placed obliquely, at an angle of 45 degrees, then only half the rays will fall on its surface, and the other half will pass over it; so it is with the surface of the earth in summer and in winter. 2. The increased heat in the polar regions is amazingly great, owing to six months continued day; which melts, or nearly, the ice and snow, produced during the six months' night. Hence, in northern countries, where the day runs 18 and 20 hours, or where the sun is above the horizon for any number of days together, the heat of summer is equal to that of any part of the world. 286. The air which we breathe, and in which we live, as fishes live in water, surrounds the whole earth, to the height, as is supposed, of 40 miles. It is of a blue colour, and therefore gives that colour to the heavens. The passage of the Sun's rays through it, is supposed to generate part of their heat, as well as their action on the ground and on various bodies. 287. The solar heat is supposed, indeed, to be excited, chiefly, by its action on terrestrial bodies; it being found, that in the hotest climates, snow and ice lie unthawed all the year on the tops of mountains; and that the heat is, in a considerable degree, in proportion to the height of the situation, or to the warmth imbibed by the surrounding atmosphere from the objects in contact. 288. As the rays of light are turned out of their course, or refracted about one degree when they enter the atmosphere, the Sun's rays, when they reach the earth, represent him a degree higher than he is; and, as he is a degree in dia meter, he appears just above the horizon, when, in reality, his upper edge is just touching it. So it is at his setting; and with his appearance and disappearance in the polar regions; and also, with the Moon, and all the heavenly bodies. 289. The denominations of various parts of the earth are derived from the phenomena produced by the Sun in the Earth's descent and ascent in its orbit. All these are given beneath, and they should not be forgotten. North Pole, 90 degrees from the Equator. South Pole, 90 degrees from the Equator. 290. The space between the tropics, twice 233 degrees wide, is called the Torrid Zone, from its extreme heat; the spaces within 23 degrees of each pole are called the Frozen Zones, from the length and frigid nature of their winters; and the two spaces between the hot and cold zones, are. called the Temperate Zones. 291. Such are the divisions of the earth, arising from the phenomena and effects of the Sun, the source of Light, Heat, and Life. They give rise to all the varieties of climates, productions, colour, and habits of man; and are, therefore, the key to a further and more correct knowledge of his habitation, the Globe of the Earth. GEOGRAPHY. 292. The natural divisions into lands and waters have already been noticed. The other great divisions, founded on local views only, are called EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA, and AMERICA; each quarter is divided into kingdoms; and each kingdom into provinces, principalities, or counties. 293. This last division gives national denomi nations to men; but the climates or zones fix their colour or character. These divide man into at least six varieties, produced by habit, and the effects of heat and cold during a series of ages. I. The dwarfish inhabitants of the polar regions; II. The flat-nosed, olive-coloured tawny race; tures; IV. The woolly-haired negroes of Africa; V. The copper-coloured native Americans, with black hair and high cheek-bones. VI. The white European nations. 294. Man is at the head of the animated creation; and unites all the advantages of strength, beauty, and structure, which are but partially possessed by other animals. His Creator has also |