Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 463 



by nitric acid, and the product heated to redness. The solution of 

 the resulting pure phosphoric acid precipitated a dilute solution of 

 albumen j but when carefully neutralized by carbonate of soda, and 

 then mixed with a solution of the nitrate of silver, the common yellow 

 phosphate subsided. Consequently, it was not in the state of pyro- 

 phosphoric acid. — Brewster's Journal, April 1 828. 



LIST OF EARTHQUAKES WHICH OCCURRED IN 1827. 



Jan. 2. — At Mortagne (Orne) and the environs. A violent shock 

 of short duration, accompanied with an intense noise. Chimneys 

 and household furniture were thrown down. The, commotion reach- 

 ed as far as Alengon. The day was cloudy, the, weather thick and 

 stormy, which is not usual at that time of the year. 



Feb. 9. — At seven o'clock in the evening ; in the north-west part 

 of Wales and the Isle of Anglesea. The shocks continued from forty 

 seconds to a minute j they were sufficiently violent to overturn se- 

 veral pieces of furniture. A noise was heard like that of a heavy 

 laden cart going on the stones. 



April 2. — At Bevers, at twenty minutes past one in the morning; 

 two strong consecutive shocks. The inhabitants of Basse-Engadine 

 assert that they counted twenty similar shocks during the winter. 

 May 29. — At Vajaca, in Mexico ; two slight shocks. 

 June 3. — At Martinique j a slight shock. 



June 12. — At Tehenacan, in Mexico, at half-past one o'clock ; a 

 violent shock, with a frightful noise. Many buildings damaged. 



June 16. — At Aquila, in the kingdom of Naples j a shock at five 

 o'clock in the morning. 



June 21. — At Palermo, at eleven o'clock in the morning. Four 

 strong shocks in the space of seven seconds ; it was an oscillatory 

 motion from the west to the east. 



Aug. 14. — At Palermo, at 2 p.m. Several shocks ; they continued 

 about eighteen minutes, with very short intervals 5 the motion was 

 always oscillatory. 



Sept. 18.— At Lisbon. A slight shock. 



Oct. 10.— At Zurich, and all the shores of the lake. At twelve 

 minutes before 3 p.m., a strong shock. 



Oct. 15. — At Jassy, at eight in the evening. Two violent shocks, 

 directed from north to south, and accompanied by a subterraneous 

 noise ; two or three days after, the heat was very great. 



Oct 30. — At Corsica, in the cantons of Taravo, Taliano, and Sar- 

 tene. Two shocks at twenty minutes past 5, a.m. 



Nov. 30. — At Pointe-a-Petre, Guadaloupe, at three in the morn- 

 ing. Violent earthquake. At Mariegalante it was preceded by a 

 strong and sudden storm. — Ann. de Chimie et de Phys. Nov, 1827. 



RED RAIN SUPPOSED TO ARISE FROM BUTTERFLIES. 



The following narrative seems curious and important in connection 

 with the various accounts of red rain. It is extracted from Gassendi's Life 

 of Peiresc, p. 1 1 0- 1 1 3 . " Through the whole of this year ( 1 C08) no- 

 thing 



