374 Rev. W. Scoresby m the Effect of Mountain Echoes, 



explosion with startling violence, but a protracted reverberation, 

 continuing for the space of nearly thirty seconds, so as to be usu- 

 ally compared, and that without extravagance, to " a peal of 

 thunder, or the discharge of a train of artiller}-.'" But the re- 

 sult of this experiment, which is more astonishing than pleas- 

 ing, is too common in mountainous countries, to justify any more 

 particular description. Not vSo, however, the effect of the bugle; 

 for although the trumpet has been used, in similar situations, 

 for producing a mixed variety of musical sounds, and though 

 artificial situations have been ingeniously devised for obtaining 

 very curious and interesting results, I am not aware of any ob- 

 servation of echoes at all equalling those obtained by the use of 

 the Kent bugle, under the circumstances above described. The 

 first sound you perceive, consists of one or two liquid notes of a 

 simple air, resolving itself into a swelling burst of sweetly blend- 

 ing harmonies, in a manner altogether novel and enchanting. 

 The unmeasured language of " Scenery Guides,"' often misleads 

 and disappoints the too credulous and excitable traveller ; but 

 though I had heard the most rapturous descriptions of the 

 bugle-echoes at the base of the Eagle's Nest, I was yet so asto- 

 nished and delighted, that the lips of the poor bugleman suffer- 

 ed from the extra service to which he was subjected, whilst we 

 remained on, and revisited, this interesting spot. Possibly, 

 however, the very happy circumstances under which I had the 

 pleasure of visiting Killarney, together with a constitutional 

 fondness for harmony, as well as enjoyment peculiarly excit- 

 able by the phenomena of nature, might enhance my delight on 

 this occasion, beyond the experience of travellers in general. 



As far as the limited time I could command would permit, I 

 was at some pains to investigate the general principles on which 

 these singular effects depend. And though on the first burst of 

 harmony I was lost in amazement, on account of its singular 

 richness and perfection, the chief properties of sound, to which 

 the phenomena are to be referred, soon became evident. And 

 these aj^eared simply to be its repercussion from suitable re- 

 flecting objects, and its progression through the air, by which 

 the intervals between the direct and the reflected tones of the 

 bugle are occasioned. Assuming the distance of the bugleman 

 from the " Station of Audience,'' (measured round the point. 



