XUÏE.S OX JArAXESE EAEÏHQUAKES. 413 



of destructive earthquakes in Japau, fig. 7, with that of the total 

 seismic activity for Kyoto, lig. *■'. It will be observed that both 

 curves present maxima and minima in nearly the same epochs. 

 ÎVO similar result, however, is to be obtained when we examine 

 the thing more in detail. Thus, the curve of the decennial 

 activity of destructive earthquakes in Japan, fig. 0, presents a 

 minimum at the middle of the IcSth century, but the curve of 

 frequency of small earthquakes at Kyoto since the 16th century, 

 iig. 8, presents a maximum at the same epoch. When considered 

 in a general way, therefore, destructive earthquakes and ordinary 

 small shocks seem to present the maxima and minima of their fre- 

 <^uency in nearly the same epochs; but, when examined in detail, the 

 maxima of short-period fluctuations in the frequency of one kind 

 of earthquakes may happen, as has been found to be the case 

 with the annual variation, simultaneously with the minima in the 

 frequency of the other kind of earthquakes and vice versa. It may 

 be observed that these tw^o conclusion are not contradictory to 

 each other, the case being somewhat analogous to the relation ot 

 volcanoes and earthquakes. It is well known that a country, 

 rich in active volcanoes, is also very frequently disturbed by 

 earthquakes. But when we examine different parts of such a 

 country in detail, it will be found that the immediate vicinity 

 of an active volcano is rarely afïected by destructive earthquakes. 



V. Geographical Distribution of Destructive Earthquakes 



in Japan. 



16. The geographical distribution of destructive earthquakes 

 in Japan is given in Table X, the figures in the second and third 

 columns giving the numbers of earthquakes which took place 



