^cimtific IntelUgence- — Geology. 193 



seven springs shew how these, elevations are gradually formed. 

 In other countries, especially in Iceland, Trinidad, Kamtschatka, 

 &c. appearances of the same description, but on a large scale, 

 occur. The quantity of matter during the course of even one 

 year, brought from the interior of the earth, and deposited on 

 its surface, by the agency of springs, is truly enormous. What 

 must be the quantity during the course of a few centuries ? 



24. On the manner in which Ammoniacal Salts are formed in 

 Volcanoes, — It is well known, that muriate and sulphate of ammo- 

 nia are met with incrusting and intermixed with volcanic rocks, 

 thus shewing that, in these situations, they are of volcanic 

 origin. Some geologists have been puzzled for an explanation of 

 the mode of formation of these salts. The following, founded on 

 Mr Faraday's experiments, may be considered as sufficiently plau- 

 sible. The hot lava, which analysis shews to contain alkaUne hy- 

 drate and also iron, coming in contact with water, a decomposi- 

 tion takes place ; the nascent hydrogen of the water unites with 

 the azote of the atmospherical air, and thus ammonia is formed, 

 and this alkali meeting with muriatic and sulphuric vapours, com- 

 bines, and forms muriate and sulphate of ammonia. 



ZOOLOGY. 



25. Whale hilled in the River St Laurence^ 600 miles from 

 the Sea. — " The steam-boat Lady Sherbroke, arrived on Friday 

 from Quebec ; the passengers on board reported, that they had 

 been followed to within a few miles of this city, by a large sea 

 monster. Some supposed it to be the famous sea-serpent, while 

 others believed it a whale or grampus ; however, all concurred 

 that it was a fish of a very large kind, stating the length to be 

 from thirty-five to eighty feet. In the evening of Friday, the 

 monster rose alongside of the steam ferry-boat, which plies from 

 the Cross (two miles below the city), to Long Guile, and ap- 

 peared to be nearly the length of the boat. On Saturday morn- 

 ing, two enterprising captains, Brush and Seymour, with a crew 

 of eight men, went down in the long boat belonging to the steam- 

 boat. About three miles below Montreal, they had the satisfac- 

 tion to see the fish rise and blow. They immediately pulled for 

 his tract, and soon came alongside, when the harpooner fixed 

 the dart into him. — Now a scene took place, which surprised 



APRIL-— JULY 1826. N 



