Lava stream, in Hawaiian Islands, flowing into the sea 72
Waterfall near Gadsden, Alabama 90
South shore, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts 121
Pocket Creek, Cape Ann, Massachusetts 163
Muir Glacier, Alaska 207
Front of Muir Glacier 240
Mount Ætna, seen from near Catania 201
Mountain gorge, Himalayas, India 330





OUTLINES OF THE EARTH'S HISTORY.


CHAPTER I.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF NATURE.


The object of this book is to give the student who is about to enter
on the study of natural science some general idea as to the conditions
of the natural realm. As this field of inquiry is vast, it will be
possible only to give the merest outline of its subject-matter, noting
those features alone which are of surpassing interest, which are
demanded for a large understanding of man's place in this world, or
which pertain to his duties in life.

In entering on any field of inquiry, it is most desirable that the