234 Geographical Collections, 



Desiderata in the Topography and Antiquities of Greece.' — At a recent 

 meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, Dr Holland called the attention 

 of future travellers in Greece to various desiderata, among which were the 

 following : — 



1. There being evidence that the great plain of Thessaly was once 

 covered with water, to examine whether there be any lacustrine or tertiary 

 formations skirting the chain of older hills which surround it. 



2. The site of the celebrated cave in Delphi, from which the Pythian 

 oracles were delivered. According, to a passage in Justin, (lib. xxiv. 6.) 

 Dr Holland is of opinion, that it may be sought for at some point above the 

 Castalian fountain, ascending the steep cleft, or break, -which separates the 

 two Delphic summits ; and that inflaming currents of carburetted hydrogen 

 gas from crevices in the rock, might lead to its discovery. 



3w The site of the celebrated oracle at Dodona, in Epirus, Dr Holland is 

 of opinion, might be found in the district of the river Arta, (ancient 

 Aracthus,) instead of that of Joannina, where it is arbitrarily placed by 

 travellers. 



4. The monasteries of Meteora might be examined for ancient manu- 

 scripts ; and the geological formation of the rocks of Meteora, as well as 

 that of the lofty chain of Pindus ; the course of the valley of Aracthus, 

 from Kalarithes upwards to Metzovo, and the pass over the mountains into 

 Thessaly. 



5. The district of Paramithia, in Albania, might be examined for remains 

 of antiquity. 



6. The ancient theatre near Jioanniij^a^bHld be well worthy the attention 

 of travellers ; with the exception of- Golohfel Leake, having been entirely 

 overlooked by those who have ailready visited that district. 



7. The site of the Tetropolis of Doris has never been sought for; — but, 

 among the various points in Greece afl^brding a field for future research, 

 Thebes, Corinth, Argos, and Olympia may perhaps be more especially 

 mentioned, having, from political circumstances, never been minutely 

 examined, and being important in history, as w^ell as famous for works of 

 art. 



Deception Island. — This island, one of the new South Shetland group, 

 was visited by Lieut. Kendall, while belonging to the ship Chanticleer, 

 Capt. Foster, and a notice of his observations was read before a late meeting 

 of the Royal Geographical Society. It is situated in lat. 62° 55' S. and 

 long. 60'^ 28^ W. and is of volcanic origin. The interior of it is occupied by 

 a circular lake, which communicates with the sea on its S. E. side. Compact 

 lava, ashes, and pumicestone, are among the component parts of the island, 

 the highest part of which is about 1800 feet above the sea. It seems that 

 volcanic action is still in progress, as many apertures were found, from 

 which steam was constantly issuing with a loud noise. Hot springs abound 

 in the island, and Lieut. Kendall found water at a temperature of 140° 

 issuing from under the snow-clad surface of the ground, and running into 

 the sea. Alum was seen in several places. The remains of a wreck were 

 found, too bid, however, to afford any clew to the name of the vessel, or the 

 country to which she had belonged. 



