Nature's Miracles

Familiar Talks on Science

BY

ELISHA GRAY, Ph. D., LL. D.

Vol. I

World-Building and Life

Earth, Air, and Water

NEW YORK

FORDS, HOWARD, & HULBERT

Copyright, 1899,

BY

FORDS, HOWARD & HULBERT.

THE MERSHON COMPANY PRESS,
RAHWAY, N. J.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

Introduction, v


Earth.

I. World-Building and Life, 1

II. Limestone, 12

III. Coal, 22

IV. Slate and Shale, 31

V. Salt, 36


Air.

VI. The Atmosphere, 42

VII. Air Temperature, 51

VIII. Cloud Formation, 60

IX. Cloud Formation (Continued), 69

X. Wind—Why It Blows, 79

XI. Wind (Continued), 88

XII. Local Winds, 100

XIII. Weather Predictions, 110

XIV. How Dew Is Formed, 115

XV. Hailstones and Snow, 124

XVI. Meteors, 129

XVII. The Sky and Its Color, 134

XVIII. Liquid Air, 146


Water.

XIX. Rivers and Floods, 152

XX. Tides, 161

XXI. What Is a Sponge? 167

XXII. Water and Ice, 177

XXIII. Stored Energy in Water, 182

XXIV. Why Does Ice Float? 192

XXV. Glaciers, 198

XXVI. Evidences and Theories of an Ice Age, 207

XXVII. Glacial and Preglacial Lakes and Rivers, 217

XXVIII. Some Effects of the Glacial Period, 230

XXIX. Drainage before the