Sii' R. I. Murchisou 0)i the Vents of Hoi Vapour in Tuscany. 67 



south-west direction ; whilst iu the Apennines the same changes have 

 occurred at the same periods on Unear bands trenduig generally from 

 N.W. to S.E., and even veering round to a meridian strike as they 

 approach the direction of the ancient and palaeozoic rocks of Corsica 

 and Sardinia. Notwithstanding, however, their great diversity of 

 direction, the Alpine and the Sardinian lines of active disturbance have 



Vesuvius. 



each been manifested along primaeval coasts, the strata formed upon 

 which contain palseozoic fossils. When, however, we pass from the 

 consideration of events so long past to the contemplation of those 

 agents of terrestrial change which have been most active iu com- 

 paratively recent times, the Apennines are at once distinguished from 

 the Alps in possessing those truly volcanic pli«?nomcna which 

 connect geology and existing history. With the most frequent evi- 

 dences of recent mutations to an enormous extent in their outlines 

 — i. e. since the period of the glacial waters * — the AIjjs present no- 

 where the trace of any subaerial volcano ; the youngest igneous rocks 



* See " Distriljutioii of the Superficial Detritus of the Alps, as compared with 

 that of Northern Europe." (Quart. Jourii. Geol. Soc. vol. vi. p. G5.) 



F2 



