67 



an eruption in Iceland. In 1755, during a violent eruption of the 

 Kottlugirer Jokul, showers of ashes fell in the Zetland isles. In 

 1766, during a great eruption of Hecla, showers of ashes reached 

 the Orkneys, and were long remembered there under the name of the 

 black fnow. Again, in 1783, a similar dust was observed to de- 

 scend in Orkney, which was coincident with a terrible eruption of the 

 Shaptar Jokul ; the most calamitous which ever happened in Iceland. 



Thus, the volcanic ashes of that island have thrice before reached 

 our northern islands ; and recent intelligence brought by Danish 

 fishing vessels from Iceland announces, that, in the end of August, 

 Hccla, after being quiescent since 1766, has emitted a violent erup- 

 tion from its flanks ; and there can be little doubt that the dust now 

 exhibited is derived from that eruption. 



The distance between Hecla and the Orkney Islands is about 550 

 miles. Volney and other writers assure us that the ashes of Etna 

 are often carried to the plains of Egypt, or to double that distance ; 

 and the eruption of the Tomboro, as described by RaflBes, in the 

 eastern archipelago, appears to have exerted a no less astonishing 

 projectile force. 



The following Donations were announced : — 



Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1844, No. 145. — By the 



Society. 

 The Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Vol. XIX., 



Part 3, 4. 

 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. Nos. 19 to 26.— 



£y the Society. 

 Archives du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, publiees par les Profes- 



seurs-Administrateurs de cet Etablissement. Tome IV., Liv''" 



1, 2. — By the Editors. 

 The Second Annual Report of the Agricultural and Horticultural 



Society of Auckland. — By John Johnston, M.D., President. 

 Waarnemingen en Proeven over de onlangs Geheerscht Hebbende 



Ziekte der Aardappelen. Door G. Vrolik, M.D. — By the Au- 

 thor. 

 CEuvres de La Place, 4 Tomes. — Par Le Ministre de l Instruction 



publique de France. 



