XVI. Defcription of the Paliorum Lacus, or Lake Paleus, in 
the Valley of Noto in Sicily. By M. DoLtomigu*, 
Tus {mall but very remarkable lake, fituated at the 
diftancegof two miles weft from the town of Palagonia, or of 
a mile from Mineo, is furrounded by volcanic mountains, 
and lies in a fmall plain fomewhat hollow towards the mid- 
dle. This plain is half furrounded by fteep rocks, which 
_ give it the appearance of a monftrous crater, that has funk 
down by fome convulfion. The lake is placed in its centre, 
and, as it were, in the middle of a funnel. Its depth often 
varies, and confequently its circumference. . In the winter 
time it may be about fixty or feventy fathoms in diameter, 
and about ten in depth; but in fummer, when great drought 
prevails, it is often entirely dry. At the period when I faw 
it, which was in the month of May, it rated an oval about 
thirty” fathoms in length and twenty in breadth: its depth 
was about five or fix. It had a ftrong fmell of Jew’s pitch, 
or afphaltes, even at a confiderable diftance. The water in 
its colour inclined a little to green, and had an exceedingly 
naufeous and difagreeable tafte. I was told that the water was 
often tepid; but it had, at the time when I examined it, the 
temperature of the atmofphere. In feveral parts of it I ob- 
fervyed a violent bubbling, and particularly in four places near 
the middle. This bubbling was ftronger at certain intervals, 
and the water was thrown up fometimes to the height of 
two or three feet, rifing in this manner every five or fix 
minutes. There are periods when this boiling is ftronger 
or weaker; but on thefe occafions no other noife is heard 
than that produced by the motion of the water. 
When the lake is dry, one may without danger examine 
its centre, where there are feveral deep holes. From thefe 
holes currents of air, fomewhat warm, continually arife, and 
throw back fand and other bodies if put into them. It is 
this aériform vapour which, when the bafon is full, forces 
pp the water as before defcribed, and makes it to be covered 
* From Magazin fur das nencfle aus der Phyfik, Vol.UII. 
with 
