184 H. G. FOEDHAM — THE EAETHQITAKE 



Committee of the British Association had been investigating the 

 seismic phenomena of Japan, and at the Ipswich Meeting (1895) 

 these two committees were amalgamated under the title of "The 

 Committee on Seismological Observations," and the new Committee 

 presented its first Report at last year's meeting at Liverpool.* 



In view of future shocks it is very desirable that the class of 

 facts which may be usefully noted by observers should be widely 

 known, and I think therefore that no apology is needed for re- 

 printing here the set of queries published by Dr. Davison in the 

 newspaper press under date of the 19th of December, 1896, and 

 which may be referred to by persons noticing any vibration or 

 movement of the earth, and who may wish to record their sensa- 

 tions shortly. 



" 1. — Name of the place where the eai'thquake was observed. 



"2. — Time at which it was felt, if possible to the nearest 

 minute. 



"3. — (rt) What was the nature of the shock? (b) Did the 

 shock consist of two distinct parts, separated by an 

 interval of a few seconds ? (c) If so, which part was 

 the stronger, and how long was the interval between 

 the two parts '? 



" 4. — How many seconds did the shock last, not including the 

 accompanying sound ? 



" 5. — Was the shock strong enough (a) to make doors, 

 windows, fire-irons, crockery, etc., rattle ; (b) to 

 cause the chair, etc., on which the observer was 

 resting to be perceptibly raised or moved; (c) to make 

 chandeliers, pictures, etc., swing, or to stop clocks? 



" 6. — (ff) Was the shock accompanied by any unusual rumbling 

 sound; and, if so, what did it resemble? (b) Did 

 the beginning of the sound precede, coincide with, or 

 follow, the beginning of the shock, and by how many 

 seconds? {c) Did the end of the sound precede, 

 coincide with, or follow, the end of the shock, and by 

 how many seconds ? " 



My investigation of the causes of the disturbance experienced on 

 20th November, 1887, extending over a very considerable area in 

 the South Midlands of England, showed conclusively that what 

 was in the first instance attributed to an earthquake, was really 

 due to the passage of a bolide or meteorite through the atmosphere 

 across the district, and its explosion at various points on its course. 



So far as I am aware, the series of facts collected in that case 

 present the only fairly complete study we have (in this country, at 

 all events) of such an occurrence. They are of interest in them- 

 selves, but perhaps their value really lies in their assisting, in some 

 measure, to establish the distinctions between the effects of earth 

 tremors and aerial shock on individuals and objects on the surface 



* ' Report of the Briiish Association for the Advancement of Science,' 

 Liverpool, 1896, p. 180. (Lomlou : John Miuray, 1896.) 



