22 



Arestern slopes of the liills, retaining the heat AA'hich is given out 

 ty the condensation ; and so passes into the Eastern valleys as a 

 Avind dry and exceedingly hot. The same phenomenon is ex- 

 perienced in many mountain countries ; in New Zealand, in 

 Norway, in Greenland, and on the Eastern side of the Kooky 

 Mountains, where the peculiar heat and dryness of the air permits 

 and encourages frequent devastating fires, and has rendered large 

 tracts of country absolutely treeless. 



The Lecturer concluded with a hasty survey of the climatic 

 conditions of different countries where the mean temjjerature 

 throughout the year is the same, but very different at different 

 seasons, more especially instancing Tierra del Fuego and Astrakan ; 

 in the first of which the temperature is rarely mucli above or much 

 below the freezing point, whilst in the other Avarm summers arc 

 followed by cold winters. The average is the same, but the flora 

 and fauna of the tAVo places are extremely different. 



The following Notes on "The recent Earthquake in Essex,"' 

 by T. Y. Holmes, Esq., F.G.S., AA-ere then read by the Secretary. 



Having just returned (May 5th) from a visit to Colchester and 

 its neighbourhood, it occurs to me that a fcAV brief notes on the 

 results of the recent earthquake there may be acceptable to the 

 LeAvisham and Blackheath Scientific Association. The Essex Field 

 Club has naturally felt specially interested in an event Avhich has 

 been attended Avith startling effects in that county alone, and three 

 of its members, Mr. K. Meldola, Mr. W. Cole, and myself, went 

 doAA'n Avith a view of obtaining evidence at first hand. In our 

 inquiry we received much valuable assistance from Mr. H. Laver, 

 surgeon, of Colchester. 



The area in which many buildings have been seriously 

 damaged is but a small one. I mean, that the district in Avhich 

 from one-third to tAvo-tliirds of the buildings have been damaged 

 is but small. In the toAvn of Colchester itself ninety-five 



