418 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



of the island. The pastor of the island descended into various 

 deep and spacious grottoes, but perfect silence reigned there. 



The number of detonations per day varied from four to six, and 

 even at times, to a hundred ; their force increased now and then un- 

 til they resembled the noise of large artillery. They occurred in 

 all seasons, at all hours of the day, in fine and in stormy weather, 

 during the flux and the reflux of the sea, and whether it were 

 calm or agitated. The most violent were in August, 1823; no 

 rain had fallen for the preceding four months, the rivulets were 

 dry, and the rivers very low. 



The noises occurred until February, 1824, when they ceased 

 for seven months ; the detonations recommenced in September of 

 the same year, and continued until the middle of March, 1825, 

 though more feeble and rare of occurrence ; since which time 

 they had ceased, though perhaps only for a limited period. There 

 were during the phenomena intermittences of several months ; 

 these never took place except after very strong detonations, 

 and the sounds recommenced suddenly and with intensity. The 

 present cessation, however, was after sounds more and more 

 feeble. The last sounds were profound and dull, like the echo of 

 the report of a cannon, and gave an idea of the gradual diminu- 

 tion of the cause of this extraordinary effect. 



The detonations were never accompanied by any luminous phe- 

 nomena of a meteoric nature, nor was any local modification of 

 the atmosphere observed during their continuance, nor accumula- 

 tion of clouds, nor impetuous winds, nor great claps of thunder, 

 nor abundant snows, nor adverse winds ; the barometer and elec- 

 trometer never exhibited any peculiar movement. The nature of 

 the sound did not indicate a subterraneous cause, but rather an 

 explosion in the ambient atmosphere. 



No probable explanation of this curious natural phenomenon has 

 yet been suggested. — Bib. Univ. xxix. 267. 



15. Edinburgh Prize Essay. 

 Royal Medical Hall, Edinburgh, 22d Nov. 1825. 



The Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh propose, as the sub- 

 ject of their prize essay, the following questions : 



1st. What is the respective agency of the veins and the lym- 

 phatics in the process of absorption ? 



2nd. By what means or mechanism do these vessels accomplish 

 this process ? What are the proofs which shew that the sub- 

 stances absorbed are taken up by open mouths or orifices, or pass 

 through the coats in the manner of imbibition or transudation ? 



3d. Is there any reason to believe that the individual animal 



