150 Mr D. Milne on Earthquake- Shocks felt in Great Britain^ 



of it, " there was a strong smell of a combination of a sulphu- 

 reous and metallic air emitted through the floor." At Kin- 

 gussie, " there was a sulphureous smell at the time of the 

 shock, which was most distinctly felt by the Rev. Mr Shep- 

 herd, who went out almost immediately after the shock, and 

 called Mrs Shepherd, who felt it very strong." " It was also 

 perceived about twelve miles farther up the river (Spey), by 

 persons, who describe it as having the smell of the washings 

 of guns/' At Woodcot, near Dollar, Mr Walker says, that 

 *' The weather on the day of the shock, and also the one pre- 

 ceding it, was uncommonly calm — very foggy towards even- 

 ing, and the air at that time felt much warmer than the de- 

 gree of heat indicated by the thermometer ; and I thought 

 (but it may have been fancy), that there was a peculiar odour 

 perceptible. In 1824, when at Lisbon, I perfectly recollect 

 having remarked the same thing." 



On making enquiry as to this odour, when he visited 

 Comrie shortly after October 1839, the author found that it 

 had been remarked by various individuals, on several different 

 occasions during that month. But 1^ could obtain no very- 

 precise information as to the nature of it. It will be observed 

 from the letter of Mr Cameron, the parochial schoolmaster of 

 Comrie, before quoted, that he at first discredited the state- 

 ments of individuals as to their having perceived a smell. He 

 says, that " There was a sulphureous smell perceived, which 

 was supposed to come off the river : but several persons, 

 at a considerable distance from the river, were sensible of it. 

 Though I heard of many who said they perceived this, I would 

 not believe it, till one evening Mrs C. was standing at the 

 water-edge, and wishing to convince me of its reality, asked 

 me to go to the water-edge. I did so, and I must say that 

 the smell was so strong that it could not be mistaken. It was 

 a little after sun-set, and the evening having suddenly turned 

 to intense frost, the whole course of the river could be traced 

 from a distance, by a sort of vapour or mist that arose from 

 it^ — most favourable for giving out any effluvia." 



Mr Colquhoun of Clatheck, also assured the author that he 

 had, on the 23d October, perceived the sulphureous smell ; and 

 he heard that it had been taken notice of in Glenlednock, as 

 Well as in other parts of Stratherne. It is, in these circum- 



