120 Mr D. Milne on Earthquake-Shocks felt in Great Britain 
strength, and in the more violent ones the vibration is of equal 
continuance with the sound ; but in the lesser ones no vibration 
is perceptible, merely the peculiar report is heard. In the great 
shock of the 23d there were two reports, with an interval of 4’ 
or 5” between the first report and the commencement of the 
second, before anysensible vibration or concussion ensued. The 
nature of the noise usually resembles the report of a gun dis- 
charged among rocks, when the sound produced is deep and hol- 
low. This marks the first explosion. Then follows the sharp 
rumble, as if through a cavity in the earth, and in the sharper 
shocks produces a jingle like the jarring of some metallic body 
in the earth. 
« Towards the termination of the principal shock on the 
23d, there was a strong smell of a combination of sulphureous 
and metallic air emitted through the floor ; and though I felt 
perfectly convinced this was not the production of fancy, yet 
it has been satisfactory to me having heard from others since 
that they experienced the same. In connection with this, it 
may be noticed, that some linen placed on the ground 13 
miles east from hence, to bleach on the morning of the 23d, 
was on the following day discovered entirely covered with 
small particles of black. The clothes were on the usual spot 
for dressing the linen, and removed fifty yards at least from a 
solitary house, and with high trees intervening. I could not 
learn that the under surface next the ground was discoloured. 
“ In my kitchen, several tin covers hanging on nails, and a 
few other things on an elevated situation, not firmly fixed, 
were thrown down with the shake. 
“‘T have now resided at Comrie more than six years, and so 
far as my recollection carries me, in each month of November, 
-I have experienced one and sometimes two shocks, usually 
occurring between 9 and 11 p.m.; and I do not remember 
having felt any at any other period of the year, except once 
at 7 a.m. ona bright morning in April. {do not think the 
general effect, character, or direction of these former earth- 
quakes differed in any respect from those I have felt and heard 
during the past months of October and November, except as 
regards the great one of the 23d, which was totally and es- 
sentially different from any I have ever heard, for they as 
well as the recent ones varied in strength, but possessed pre- 
