The continent of America, if the stony records of the Past are readaright, claims to be the oldest instead of the newest portion of theglobe. [According to some geologists, Labrador was the first part ofour globe's surface to become dry land.] Bowing to this opinion ofgeologists till they see cause to express a different one, we will, inconsequence, commence our survey of the world and its inhabitants withthe Western Hemisphere. From the multitude of objects which crowd uponus, we can examine only a few of the most interesting minutely; atothers we can merely give a cursory glance; while many we must pass byaltogether,--our object being to obtain a general and retainableknowledge of the physical features of the Earth, the vegetation whichclothes its surface, the races of men who inhabit it, and the tribes ofthe brute creation found in its forests and waters, on its plains andmountains.