GEOLOGY. 313 



of centuries for their development. The first eruptions are believed to have 

 been submarine, occurring probably in a bay of the sea, which was gradually 

 converted into land by the outpouring of lava and scoriae, as well as by a 

 slow and simultaneous upheaval of the whole territory. The basalts, and 

 other igneous products of the Cyclopean Islands, were formed contempora- 

 neously in the same sea, the molluscous fauna of which approached very near 

 to that now inhabiting the Mediterranean; so much so, that about nineteen- 

 twentieths of the fossil species of the sub-Etnean tertiary strata still live in 

 the adjoining seas. Hence, as that part of Etna which is of sub-aerial origin 

 is neAver than such fossils, the age of the mountain is proved to be, geologi- 

 cally speaking, extremely modern. During the period when the volcano 

 was slowly built up, a movement of upheaval was gradually converting 

 tracts of the neighboring bed of the sea into land, and causing the oldest 

 volcanic and associated sedimentary strata to rise, until they reached 

 eventually a height of twelve hundred feet, and perhaps more, above the 

 sea-level. At the same time the old coast-line, together with the alluvial 

 deposits of rivers, was upraised, and inland cliffs and terraces formed at 

 successive heights. The remains of elephants, and other quadrupeds, some 

 of extinct species, are found in these old and upraised alluviums. Fossil 

 leaves of terrestrial plants also, such as the laurel, myrtle, and pistachio, of 

 species indigenous to Sicily, have been detected in the oldest sub-aerial tuffs. 

 At first the cone of Trifoglietro, and probably the lower part of the cone of 

 Mongibello, was built up ; still later the cone last mentioned, becoming the 

 sole centre of activity, overwhelmed the eastern cone, and finally underwent 

 in itself various transformations, including the truncation of its summit, and 

 the truncation of the Yai del Bove on its eastern flank. Lastly, the phase of 

 lateral eruptions began, which still continues in full vigor. 



IMPRESSIONS OF BOXES IN THE MESOZOIC RED SANDSTONE. 



At a recent meeting of the Boston Society of Natural History, Professor 

 Rogers exhibited a cast taken from the surface of a block of red sandstone, 

 containing the impressions of bones, apparently of ornithic character. The 

 rock was found near the landing at Fort Adams, Newport, along with many 

 others brought there for building purposes. It is stated to have come origi- 

 nally from the quarry at Portland, Conn., and evidently belongs to the 

 Mesozoic sandstone formation of the Connecticut valley. The specimen is 

 unique, and it is hoped that when duly examined it will help us to a more 

 definite knowledge of some of the animals whose footprints are so abundant 

 in this group of rocks. 



OX THE FOSSIL BIRD BOXES OF NEW ZEALAXD. 



Dr. Hochstetter, the geologist of the late Austrian Exploring Expedition, 

 was so fortunate as to obtain in New Zealand several of the most complete 

 collections of the bones of the extinct fossil bird (the Moa) of these islands 

 which have yet been found, together with a perfect skull of the Moa. These 

 were mainly exhumed from caves, and the operations of the party investi- 

 gating are thus described by Dr. H. : 



The excitement of the Moa-diggers was great, and increased; for the 

 deeper they went below the stalagmite crusts covering the floor, the larger 

 were the bones they found, and whole legs, from the hip-bone to the claws 



