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activity, leaving features diversified by ancient igneous rocks 
and modern Java flows, mud volcanoes still in action, tripoli 
beds, deposits of salt, lime, sulphur, and bitumen. 
The mud volcano, emitting nauseous gases, is in this con- 
nection worthy of a passing note. Near Aragona Caldare, the 
junction railway station for the Girgenti and Catania main line 
in a quarter of a mile walk westward—is an interesting example 
of the marshy condition, acted on by chemical and volcanic 
forces. The hill on which this volcano is situated consists of 
marly soil ; its dimensions are about 120 feet by 140 feet with a 
cone on the summit of 2 to 3 feet, filled with liquid mud, which 
gives off a stench more or less strong of hydrogen sulphide, or 
carbon dioxide gas. The face of the country all around is 
desolation—not a blade of grass to be seen. A writer sends 
from Japan the following graphic description of a similar 
voleano :—‘“‘ This volcanic mountain is bald, bleak, treeless, 
“whitening beneath the masses of cinders with which it is 
“covered. The mountain is burning, and there are pits of 
“flaming sulphur on its side. Also in one place called Usen, 
“are deep pools of boiling water; and one deeper, and indeed 
“unfathomable, instead of being filled with water, is full of 
“sulphurous mud, that seethes and bubbles, and rises and 
“splutters, in a dark abyss, emitting all the while a horrible 
“stench. The Japanese call it ‘The Mouth of Hell,’ and it is 
“said that drops from it blister the skin.” Sicily has many 
of these Maccalubi, as they are called: one of them near 
Caltanissetta, is considered to be of Plioceneage. These indica- 
tions will be seen to have a bearing upon subsequent remarks 
tending to ascertain the age of the sulphur-bearing beds of marl, 
which contain Celestite, and are known as the Strontian bands or 
Celestite deposits. The age of the sulphur and of the Celestite 
is the same; and we cannot help remarking that it is not an 
uncommon error to suppose that all sulphur comes from vol- 
canoes. The Strontian-bearing strata are known by their 
peculiar yellowish colour, which probably represents banks of 
old sulphur deposits, either very poor or destitute of sulphur. 
“Tn such rare cases,” says Signor L. Baldacci, Engineer of the 
Royal School of Mines at Rome, “the position of the Strontian 
