92 
twelvemonth old, when those turned into the water will be 
better fitted to engage in the battle of life, in which only some 
of the strongest will survive. 
The Fourtsa Winter Mersrtine of the Club for the present 
season was held in the Lecture Theatre of the Science School 
in Gloucester, on Wednesday, the 6th of April, when a paper 
was read by Edward Wethered, F.L.S., F.G.8., on ‘ Volcanic 
Eruptions and Earthquakes.” Mr Wethered began by saying 
that the Malvern Hills would show that seismic disturbances 
were active at early periods of the earth’s history, and old 
chronicles told of violent volcanic outbursts which filled with 
terror and awakened superstition in the minds of the ancients. 
The earliest records of volcanoes were those of the Lipari 
Islands. The chief of these was called Vulcano, as it was looked 
upon as the abode of Vulcan, and hence the word volcano. 
Desiring to direct their attention to typical volcanoes, the 
lecturer first selected Stromboli, the only remaining active 
volcano of the Lipari group. It had been active for 1000 years, 
and emitted steam. Volcanoes did not emit flame, and the 
apparent flame was probably due to reflection from the molten 
-lava. The volcanoes in the Hawaeian Islands were then con- 
sidered. Mauna Loa had been active in January, and previously 
to January 15th there had been 36 hours of continuous earth- 
quake, and he should show that eruptions were always preceded 
by earthquakes. The best known volcanic district was that of 
the Bay of Naples, which was also the most remarkable; and 
after a description of the chief active volcanoes, Mr Wethered 
gave a history of Vesuvius. It frequently assumed the appear- 
ance of an extinct volcano, and had repeatedly shown that its 
forces were not exhausted. The recent New Zealand eruption 
was similar to the first outbreak of Vesuvius. These eruptions 
were preceded by earthquakes, which increased in intensity as 
the time of the outbreak approached. 
Mr Wethered then passed from the history of volcanoes to 
some of the theories advanced to account for volcanic eruptions, 
They were due to molten lava, or mineral matter in a state of 
fusion, which exists below the surface; and the question is, 
