THE COASTS OF SICILY. Ill 



even in the present day it numbers many distin- 

 guished geologists among its supporters. 



A very partial view of the mountain is of itself 

 sufficient to raise doubts in reference to the truth 

 of this explanation. The slopes which have been 

 formed by the accumulation of moving materials 

 freely obeying the laws of gravity, all present in 

 their contours straight and regular lines. The lateral 

 slopes, the terminal cone of Etna, and the numerous 

 secondary cones on the flanks of the mountain, 

 possess in a high degree this character of regularity. 

 In the most ancient of these cones, and in those 

 which for ages past have been subjected to the 

 action of atmospheric agents, more especially of 

 heavy rains, the declivities may indeed have di- 

 minished, especially at the base, but they still remain 

 regular in form, and their contours join the plain on 

 which they stand by continuous curves. 



The essential character of the profile of Etna, 

 considered as a whole, is, on the contrary, a want of 

 continuity in its outline. Between the parts which 

 we have designated under the names of lateral 

 declivities and central elevation, there exists a very 

 perceptible break. The same is the case between 

 the central elevation and the terminal cone. These 

 facts appear in themselves to refer these different 

 parts to different origins, and hence M. Elie de 

 Beaumont has been justly led to observe, that a 

 profound knowledge of the outline of Etna was 

 almost a theory in itself. 



The examination of the lava beds has led us to 

 the same result, and here we will briefly mention 



