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MODE III. BASALTIN. 43 



rising from the sea, the tops forming a walk at 

 the bottom of the cliffs. 



" In the mountain of la Motta, two leagues 

 from Catania, there are very large and long 

 prismatic columns, in a vertical position, formed 

 of the most compact lava, which rings like 

 bronze. 



" In the mountain of Paterno there are large 

 columns, ill figured. 



" In the mountains of Licodia, near the spring 

 called Capo del Acqua, there is a wall of large 

 prismatic columns. 



" Under the little town of Bianca Villa there 

 are cliffs formed by prismatic columns. 



" In going from Bianca Villa to Aderno you 

 often walk on the tops of columns, which form 

 regular pavements, resembling the ancient Ro- 

 man ways. Within the town of Aderno there 

 are also several basaltic causeys. 



" Between Aderno and Bronte, on taking the 

 lower road which follows the course of the river, 

 you walk for more than two leagues on a pave- 

 ment formed by the tops of columns ; and on 

 the right are the most beautiful walls of pris- 

 matic basalt which I have ever seen, the co- 

 lumns being mostly vertical. There may also be 

 observed in many places fasces of prisms, pro- 

 jecting from the wall, like epaulements or demi- 



