Chemiidl Science. 425 



lant), et mare juxta Avernum jacet, sese erigere videbalur, et 

 montis subito nascentes imitari figuram. Eo ipso die hora 

 noctis 2 liic terrce cumulus aperto veluti ore, magno cum fre- 

 mitu miros evomuit ignes, pumices, lapides, cineresque fosdi tarn 

 magnam copiam, ut quje adhuc extabant Puteolorum aedificia 

 operuerit, herbas omnes texeret, arbores fregeret, pendentemque 

 vindemiam ad sextum usque lipidem in cineres verterit, aves, 

 et nonnullas quadrupedes bestias interemerit. Fugientibus 

 per tenebras Puteolanis cum natis, et uxoribus magno ejulatu 

 Neapolem sese recipientibus, cinis prope voragineus erat siccus, 

 long^ vero lutesus, et humidus ceccdit. Sed quod omnem 

 superat admirationera, mons circum earn voraginem (nunc di- 

 citur mons novus) ex pumicibus, et cinere plusquam 1000 pas- 

 suum altitudine una nocte congestus aspicitur, in quo multa in 

 erant spiramenta, e quibus nunc duo supersunt, alterum juxta 

 Avernum, alterum in medio montis ; Averni magna pars operta 

 cinere. Balnea ita tot seculis celebrata, quaeque tot tegris 

 salutem pra^stabant cinere sepulta jacent, durat hoc incendium 

 usq ; ad banc diem cum aliqua tamen intercapedine." 



5. Fall of an Aerolite at Juvinas. — A large aerolite fell on 

 the 15th June last at Juvinas, a village in the arrondissement of 

 rArgentit-re, department de I'Ard^che, respecting which some 

 very accurate details have been preserved. It fell about four 

 o'clock P.M., the sky being clear, and the sun shining bright; 

 a continued rolling noise was heard for above three minutes, 

 during which time four distinct detonations took place. Tlie 

 noise was heard at Tarascon, at Nismes, and still farther off. 

 A brilliant fire was seen in the air by persons, at Nismes, 

 St. Thome, (a league to the west of Viviers), and Aps, a league 

 farther off; all agree in saying it resembled a fire, burning like a 

 star, and descending slowly in the N.W., and which, on disap- 

 pearing, left a train of smoke. At first strange reports were cir- 

 culated about the fire and the noise, but after eight or nine days, 

 two countrymen of Juvinas, a village 20,600 toises to the 

 N.W. of Viviers, described, that whilst working on the land 

 they heard a dreadful noise, and saw an enormous mass of 

 fire fall about fifty steps off from them into the ground ; tearing 

 up the surface, and making much smoke. Being frightened 

 they ran away, and at first durst not mention the circumstance ; 

 but after a time, other persons becoming acquainted with the fact, 

 search was made in the ground where the fire descended; and, 

 at the depth of five feet a large stone was discovered, weighing 

 2201b., or 91 kilogrammes. The countrymen, now relieved from 

 their fright, thought from its weight tliat it contained gold, and 

 could not be dissuaded from breaking it up. Large portions 

 of it were, however, preserved. Some of the fragments arc 

 with Dr. Kmbri of Aubcnas, others with M. Allijas, watch-maker 



V.U.. MI. 2 V 



