392 Scientific Intelligence. — Geology. 



burn of CuUcn, and along the bay about that point ; but as it 

 can only be reached at the lowest tides, it has not yet been fully 

 examined. It is said to contain oak trees in an erect posture, 

 rising from a bed of blue clay. We hope to hear more regard- 

 ing this interesting statement. 



J 3. Vast Extent of the Earthquake of .1827.— On 16th No- 

 vember 1827, a violent earthquake was felt at Santa Fe de Bo- 

 gota, in Columbia, and on the same day at Ochotsk in Siberia. 

 It is stated 17th November in Siberia, which, however, consi- 

 dering the relative geographical situation, is the same day as at 

 Santa Fe de Bogota. It is worthy of remark, that the direc- 

 tion of the earthquake in Columbia was from SE. to NW., and 

 that this direction points towards Siberia. Not less interesting 

 is the circumstance that the line from Columbia towards Siberia 

 strikes the most remarkable volcanic region in Mexico, and is pa- 

 rallel to the principal range of American mountains. This may 

 be viewed as a proof that the operation of earthquakes is propa- 

 gated in a linear direction, it may be in great rents, or accord- 

 ing to the arrangement of chains of mountains, strata, or rocks. 

 It affords also a striking proof of the great depth at which the 

 process which gives rise to earthquakes is carried on. 



14. Huge scattered Blocks of Granite. — Not far from the town 

 of Lovisa (which lies on the Finnish or northern shore of the 

 Gulf of Finland, about 200 miles east of St Petersburg), we 

 entered upon a level and extensive plain. For three or four 

 miles from west to east, we traversed this plain or steppe, which 

 is covered with huge blocks of granite, many of which must 

 weigh 200, 300, and even 400 tons. These masses of granite 

 are rapidly crumbling to the ground, and large heaps of the dis- 

 integrated matter lie piled at the base of each block. So exten- 

 sively has this decay of these rocks prevailed, that the roads of 

 the neighbouring district for several miles are metalled with their 

 debris alone. But what chiefly deserves notice is, that the de- 

 cay takes place on that side only which I found by compass 

 faces to the SW. From this quarter the wind is said chiefly to 

 blow, — a circumstance that, in connection with the luxuriance 

 of the wild vegetation of the neighbourhood, may favour the 

 idea that this decay of the rock is to be attributed to the action 

 of the wind impregnated with carbonic acid. Indeed^ the 



