654 



ICELAND. 



Icetuiil. 



New Gey 

 ser. 



tion of the ground is felt around the bason. Imme- 

 diately the water rises in a mass from the pit, and sink- 

 ing again, causes the water in the bason to be agitated 

 and to overflow. Another and stronger propulsion 

 follows, and clouds of vapour ascend ; at length strong 

 explosions take place, and large quantities of steam es- 

 caping, the water is thrown to a great height, generally 

 from 30 to 90 feet. The steam coming in contact with 

 the air is condensed into vapour, thick clouds of which 

 are tossed and rolled one over another with great rapi- 

 dity, the whole forming a very singular and magni- 

 ficent exhibition. After continuing for some time, the 

 explosions cease, when the bason and pipe are found 

 empty. Hursts of steam sometimes take place when 

 the water is rising, without any warning by subterra- 

 neous noise. These phenomena are caused evidently 

 by the production and confinement of steam in cavities, 

 so formed, that when the accumulation arrives at a cer- 

 tain point, the pressure of the water opposing its escape, 

 is overcome, and the water is thrown out before it. 



The New Geyser, as it was called by Sir John Stan- 

 ley, is about 130 paces from the great one. It is an 

 irregularly shaped pit, nine feet in its greatest diame- 

 ter. About 20 feet below the orifice, which is not sur- 

 rounded by an accumulation of silicious matter as the 

 other, the water is seen in great agitation. At irregu- 

 lar intervals, the water is tossed out of the pit to a great 

 height, followed by a prodigious rush of steam, accom- 

 panied by a roaring noise. The force is so great that, 

 even when there is a good deal of wind, the vapour 

 forms a perpendicular column nearly 70 or 80 feet high ; 

 and when large stones are thrown into the pit, they are 

 shivered to pieces, and thrown out to a height often far 

 beyond that of the jet of vapour and water. 



At the time Mr Hooker saw it, there was a greater 

 quantity of water than when either Sir John Stanley, 

 or Sir George Mackenzie witnessed its eruptions. In- 

 deed, what Mr Hooker has described as a column of 

 water, Sir George Mackenzie describes as one of va- 

 pour. When we consider the immense power of the 

 agent which sets these grand waterworks in play, it is 

 by no means difficult to suppose frequent alterations in 

 their movement and appearance. The destruction of 

 a natural valve, or a slight change in the configuration 

 of the subterraneous pipes and cavities, might occasion 

 variations in the phenomena from time to time. 



The most curious of all the springs in Iceland is the 

 Tunguhver, in the Valley of Reikholt. Among a great 

 T n uhver numDer ot " boiling springs, are two cavities within a 

 yard of each other, from which the water spouts alter- 

 nately. While from one the water is thrown about ten 

 feet high in a narrow jet, the other cavity is full of wa- 

 ter boiling violently. This jet continues about four 

 minutes, and then subsides, when the water from the 

 other immediately rises in a thicker column to the 

 height of three or four feet. This continues about 

 three minutes, when it sinks, and the other rises, and 

 so on alternately. It is difficult to imagine the struc- 

 ture of the cavities which occasion this irregular alter- 

 nation ; nor would it be easy to construct a piece of 

 mechanism, of which steam is the prime mover, to imi- 

 tate the phenomena. 



In the middle of the river, which runs through the 

 valley of Reikholt, is a small rock, from the top of which 

 hot springs issue. At Reikholt is a bath, which was 

 constructed 600 years ago by the famous Snorro Sturle- 

 son. It is fourteen feet in diameter, and six feet deep, 

 being supplied with hot water from a spring about a 

 hundred yards distant, by means of a covered conduit, 



Singular 



called 



which has been much damaged by an earthquake. Icdand. 

 There was also a spring of cold water brought to it, so "T-~ 

 that any desired temperature might be obtained. 



On the sulphur mountains, in the district of Guld- 

 bringe, are a number of jets of steam, and natural caul- 

 drons of black boiling mud ; and there is scarcely a dis- 

 trict in the whole island without such indications of 

 subterraneous heat, which must occasion the most sin- 

 gular contrast with the winter snows and ice, through 

 which, at that season, they rise. 



At Reykum in the south, and near Husavik in the 

 north, are hot springs, which come next to the Geysers 

 in magnificence. 



The zoology of Iceland presents nothing remarkable. Natural 

 Of indigenous quadrupeds the number is very small, history. 

 and must be limited to the fox, of which there are two 

 varieties, the Cam's lagopus, and Fuliginosus. The Quadru- 

 rein-deer, the rat, and the mouse, have all been im- P el * s ' 

 ported ; as well as the domestic animals the dog, the 

 cat, the goat, the sheep, the ox, and the horse. Polar 

 bears are occasional visitors, comirig from the ice, which 

 takes ground on the north and east coasts during win- 

 ter. As soon as they appear, they are pursued and de- 

 stroyed. The skins of the foxes, particularly those of 

 the Canis futiginosus, or blue fox, is a valuable article 

 of commerce. The rein- deer are wild, and are de- 

 rived from an original stock of three, which were all 

 that survived of some that were sent from Norway in 

 1770. Instead of being serviceable, they often destroy 

 the grass which is preserved for hay. 



Several species of seals frequent the shores in consi- Fishes. 

 derable numbers ; but they are not much sought after. 



Whales are seldom seen on the coasts of Iceland ; 

 but that variety of Delphinus, which we mentioned in 

 the article FAROE, named in Orkney the ca'ing whale, 

 appears frequently in large shoals. The shark is com- 

 mon on the coasts, and is taken by large hooks fastened 

 to an anchor by chains and strong lines. Of the skins, 

 shoes are made ; and they are valuable to the inhabi- 

 tants of some districts for the oil which they afford, and 

 also for their flesh. 



The cinereous eagle, or erne, is very common. The 

 Iceland falcon, formerly so much prized, is now seldom 

 seen, though it has not for many years been molested. 



Ravens are found in great numbers near every habi- 

 tation on the coast, watching for the offal of fish. They 

 breed in the cliffs at a considerable distance from the 

 shores. 



The snow-flake, wheatear, white wagtail, golden 

 plover, snipe, and whimbrel, together with the ptarmi- 

 gan, are the other principal land birds of Iceland. 



Every kind of water fowl common to northern lati- 

 tudes is found on the coasts of Iceland, and on the 

 lakes. Swans frequent the lakes and swamps in great 

 numbers. But of all the varieties which breed in the 

 country, the eider duck is, from its habits and useful- 

 ness, the most remarkable and valuable. Early in June, ducks. 

 these birds collect in great numbers at every place 

 adapted for making their nests, and where their food is 

 in plenty. The nests are formed on the ground, ge- 

 nerally in hollows among the grass, of straws mixed 

 with the down which they pluck from their breasts. 

 There is always a quantity of down round the nest, 

 sufficient for covering the eggs when the ducks go to 

 feed, which they do regularly during the time of low 

 water, when they can get at the shell-fish among the sea- 

 weeds. At this time these birds lose all their wildness, 

 and suffer the enemy, avoided by all the lower creation, 

 man, to approach, and even to touch them, and to lift 



