218 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1884. 



itself to the westward, under the infiueuce of the prevailing winds. The 

 appearances continued in greater or less intensity through the year 

 1884. 



The council of the Eoyal Society (London) appointed a committee for 

 the purpose of collecting the various acconnts of the volcanic eruption 

 at Krakatoa, and attendant phenomena. Under date of February 12, 

 1884, the chairman, G. J. Symons, published a letter inviting authenti- 

 cated communications. (Nature, xxix, 355 ; Science, iii, 244.) 



Early in 1884 reports were received of the elevation of a new volcanic 

 island near BogoslofP, one of the Aleutian Islands, but it was not until 

 August that reliable information was at hand in regard to it. The vol- 

 canic activity apparently began early in 1883, and culminated in Octo- 

 ber, 1883, in a submarine eruption, resulting in the formation of a new 

 volcanic peak some 450 feet high, which is not a sei)arate island, but is 

 connected with the north end of Bogosloff by a low sand beach. It was 

 visited in May, 1884, by Lieut. G. M. Stouey, U. S. K, and was then still 

 active {Science, iv, 432). The i^revious history of Bogosloff has been 

 given by Dall {Science, iii, 89) and by Davidson {Science, ill, 282). 



About the same time that the new peak appeared at BogosloflP, an- 

 other Alaskan volcano. Mount Saint Augustin, on an island in Cook's 

 Inlet, also became active. On the morning of October G, 1^83, an eruj)- 

 tion occurred {Science, ill, 187), which caused an earthquake wave 25 to 

 30 feet high at Port Graham, and was at first reported to have split the 

 mountain in t\j^o from peak to base. It was also said that the northern 

 half had sunk away to the level of the cliff'. Later accounts, however 

 {Science, III, 798), state that the reports were much exaggerated. The 

 west side of the summit has fallen in, forming a new crater, but the 

 mountain was not split and no waves of imjooitance were observed. 

 1 he volcano was, however, still active in November, 1884. {Science, IV, 

 474.) 



On July 26, 1884, the light-house keeper at Cape Eeykjanes, the south- 

 west point of Iceland, saw what was supposed to be a new volcanic is- 

 land in the sea, to the westward. But after having been the subject of 

 various communications in the public press {Nature, xxxi, 37; Sciencey 

 IV, 506), the reports of a new island were at last proved to be founded 

 on a mistaken observation of a well-known island not usually visible 

 from the mainland. No new island could be found. {Nature, xxxi, 

 149.) 



Lieutenant Wohlgemuth, the leader of the Austrian polar expedi- 

 tion, found traces of still progressing volcanic activity in the island of 

 Jan Mayen, and three times, while there, observed well-marked subter- 

 ranean shocks. {Nature, xxix, 246.) 



In a monograph upon the volcano El Mayou, in the island of Luzon, 

 read before the Seismological Society of Japan, Don E. Abella y Casa- 

 riego has given a resume of former eruptions, especially those of 1766, 

 1814, 1834,1845, 1853, 1871, 1875, and 1881; and has discusstd the liy- 



