242 SEE— TEMPERATURE, SECULAR COOLING [April 20. 



phenomena connected with exhalations and vapors ; 97 aTiML<; for 

 steam; to irvevfia for a blast of wind or vapor; 97 ava6vfjLLaaL<; for 

 exhalation; 6 dvefxo^ for m«(/. The translation of ^vevfia, meaning 

 literally a breath, is very difficult, and seems best rendered by the 

 phrase blast of wind or vapor, which seems to convey Aristotle's 

 true meaning. 



In the '' Meteorology," Lib. L, Cap. 4, the following interesting 

 passage occurs : 



" It is not true, as they say, that the comet only appears in the north, 

 even at the same time when the sun is in the summer tropic; for indeed the 

 great comet which was seen at the time of the earthquake in Achaia, and the 

 inundation of the sea wave, took its course from the setting of the equinoxes, 

 and several others have been observed towards the south." 



Again we read: 



" The water which falls in rains drains away and nearly all filters into 

 the earth. But there is in the earth a large amount of fire, and a great heat 

 (^virapx^c 6'ev t£ tiJ yy ttoTiv irvp TToXkfj d^epf^drT/g). (Lib. II., Cap. 4.) 



Also: 



" Thus when it rains, since the earth is dried by the heat which is in it 

 and by that which has escaped above, an exhalation of vapor develops. This 

 is the body of the wind {ave/uov cufia). And when this secretion is going on 

 the winds blow. But when they cease because the heat, which is always 

 secreted, is borne to the upper regions, the steam {v aTfiig) being cooled, con- 

 denses and becomes water; and when the clouds are collected in one place, 

 and the surrounding cold penetrates them, water is formed and cools the 

 dry exhalation" {t7/v ^7]pav ava&vfxlaoiv). (Lib. II., Cap. 4.) 



Aristotle's Theory of Earthquakes is as follows (" Meteorology," 

 Lib. II., Cap. vii.) : 



" After these things (in relation to the winds) it is necessary to speak 

 with reference to an earthquake and movement of the earth ; for the cause 

 of the phenomenon is closely connected with this (theory of the winds). 



" Up to the present time there are three explanations of these phenomena, 

 from three different authorities : Anaxagoras the Clazomenian, and before 

 him Anaximenes the Milesian have each discussed them, and subsequently 

 to these Democritus the Abderite. 



" Now Anaxagoras holds that the ether when generated is naturally 

 borne upward, and falling into the depths of the earth below, and the cavi- 

 ties, shakes it; and the upper parts of the earth in consequence of the rains 

 are pressed together; and freely admitting that by its nature the earth is 

 everywhere equally porous, he holds that the sphere has in its totality both 

 an elevation and a base, the elevation being the part which we happen to 

 inhabit and the base the other part. 



"With reference to this subject then perhaps we ought to say nothing. 



