e have also seen that the chain of volcanoes of
Japan and of the Kurile Islands are only active to a slight extent as
compared with former times, and the same observation applies to those
of New Zealand. Out of 130 volcanoes in the Japanese islands, only 48
are now believed to be active.

Again, if we turn to other districts we have been considering, we find
that in the Indian Peninsula, in Arabia, in Syria and the Holy Land, in
Persia, in Abyssinia and Asia Minor--regions where volcanic operations
were exhibited on a grand scale throughout the Tertiary period, and in
some cases almost down into recent times--we are met by similar
evidences either of decaying volcanic energy, or of an energy which, as
far as surface phenomena are concerned, is a thing of the past. Lastly,
turning our attention to the European area, notwithstanding the still
active condition of Etna, Vesuvius, and a few adjoining islands, we see
in all directions throughout Southern Italy evidences of volcanic
operations of a past time,--such as extinct crater-cones, lakes
occupying the craters of former volcanoes, and extensive deposits of
tuff or streams of lava--all concurring in giving evidence of a period
now past, when vulcanicity was widespread over regions where its
presence is now never felt except when some earthquake shock, like that
of the Riviera, brings home to our minds the fact that the motive force
is still beneath our feet, though under restrained conditions as
compared with a former period.

Similar conclusions are applicable with even greater force to other
parts of the European area. The region of the Lower Rhine and Moselle,
of Hungary and the Carpathians, of Central France, of the North of
Ireland and the Inner Hebrides, all afford evidence of volcanic
operations at a former period on an extensive scale; and the contrast
between the present physically silent and peaceful condition of these
regions, as regards any outward manifestations of sub-terrestrial
forces, compared with those which were formerly prevalent, cannot fail
to impress our minds irresistibly with the idea that volcanic energy has
well-nigh exhausted itself over these tracts of the earth's surface.

From this general survey of the present condition of the earth's
surface, as regards the volcanic operations going on over it, and a
comparison with those of a preceding period, we are driven to the
conclusion that, however violent and often disastrous are the volcanic