294 



HOBBS— THE EVOLUTION AND THE 



[April 24, 



the phenomena as to have ventured to predict for the year 1908, a 

 grand eruption of Etna.*® This eruption not having materiahzed, 

 Ferret has accepted the Messina earthquake as a substitute.*^ As- 

 suming that his method is correct, it is possible to see how a period 

 of seismic or volcanic activity might be predicted ; the method, how- 

 ever, gives no clue as to what part of the earth's surface is likely to 

 be thus affected. The predictions of the author of the theory have, 



Fig. 6. Abandoned Sea Cave 10 feet above vi^ater on Coast of California. 



(After Fairbanks.) 



on the whole, been less remarkable than the statements made by one 

 of his supporters.*^ 



Need of an Expeditionary Corps. — It may well occasion surprise 

 that governments have been so slow to appreciate the necessity for 

 providing means for the investigation of earthquakes. Our own 

 government, which has shown such commendable generosity in 

 providing the sinews for scientific investigation, has in this particular 



*" The World's Work, November, 1907. 

 ^ Am. Jour. Sci., Vol. 27, 1909, pp. 322-323. 

 '^Jaggar, The Nation, Vol. 88, 1909, pp. 22-23. 



