Earthquakes in Sicily. 934 
ehalky land of many parts of Sicily. This want of firm bases 
frequently causes the overthrow of great rocks at the time 
of earthquakes. Well do we remember, that in the earth- 
quake of the fifth of February 1783, a mountain, a mile to 
the sou‘h of Scilla, and which was a mile and a half in length, 
fell over into the sea of Calabria and formed two new — 
montories. 
Phenomena observed in the Eolian Sec. 
If all these facts induce us to locate in Eolia the causes of 
the physical events of the past March, it is necessary to in- 
quire if these islands exhibited, at that time, any phenomena, 
which may corroborate our opinion. [| will mention there- 
fore, in this place, many facts, about which there can be no 
uncertainty, and which will be of the ‘greatest — ce 
should any one wish to push the eee: which I have an- 
nounced in this memoir, to certain eviden 
Since September of last year, the delle quantity of snake 
from Vulcano, has been much greater than usual ; and,flame 
s often been visible in the evening. Explosions ; have been 
frequently heard on the neighbouring coasts of Sicily. But 
Stromboli has exhibited the greatest nated for almost four- 
teen months without intermission s have been very 
ears: and so strong as to fill the isleslade although accus- 
med to them, with creat apprehensions. The island, with 
re blazing mountain itself, seemed often on the point of be being 
torn up from its foundation. ‘The volcano opened two new 
mouths on the side which looks towards the sea 
out from them fearful clouds of sand, and burning rocks, which 
after darkening the air, fell to the earth. . Fortu nately their 
irection was not towards any of the little habitations, or 
cultivated fields of the island. One forest only on the side 
of the mountain. suffered some injury. The inhabitants often 
found themselves enveloped in thick clouds of black smoke 
_* The external phenomena of a volcano, show that the effects of the 
have come: to the surface; but nature operates often in the 
recesses of the without exhibiting any external visible ef- 
ict of Bsa operations ; elastic vapours may form there, shake the soil, 
rn to their concrete state. When eruptions happen from the 
which may be thrown out, thus giving certain proof of the 
existence of these forced. 
