PRESENT CHANGES IN THE EARTH. 



115 



sea off the island of Sicily in the year 1831. Fig. 44, a, 

 represents it as it appeared on the 18th of July. On the 



Fig. 44, a. 



4th of August it appeared as seen in Fig. 44, b (p. 116). 

 It was 180 feet high, and over a mile in circumference. 

 It was composed mostly of loose material, and therefore 

 was so far washed away by the water in the course of 

 two or three years that there was nothing left but a rocky 

 shoal. Many other islands have been seen to rise out of 

 the sea, and there are also many which are composed of 

 lava, showing that they were produced, we know not 



