196 REPORT—1896. 
pean countries, are very full, we naturally expect to meet with approxi- 
mate coincidences in time between some of these shocks and those recorded 
ht. Shide. As examples of these coincidences, the shock of August 19 
t 9°983h. and that of August 20 at 12°383h. may be taken. These two 
shocks followed heavy disturbances which took place in Asia Minor by 
intervals of about 28m. 32s. and 32m. 32s. Taking the distance between 
the Isle of Wight and the western part of Asia Minor at 5!,th of the 
earth’s circumference and the velocity of a surface-wave at 2km. per 
second, these intervals of time should have been 23m. or 24m. The dis- 
crepancy of from 4m. to 8m. betwéen what is observed and what would 
be expected might be explained on the assumption that the times noted in 
Asia Minor seem to be but roughly approximate. Several facts, however, 
indicate that many of the disturbances noted in the Isle of Wight, although 
they may agree in time with those catalogued by Agamennone, are not 
identical with the same. 
The Isle of Wight displacements commence suddenly and succeed each 
other at widening intervals of time, both of which characters are sugges- 
tive of shocks having a local origin. Farther than this, although certain 
of them may have taken place at an interval of time roughly proportional 
to the distance of an origin when there has been a heavy disturbance, 
there are many in the same series-where this proportionality does not 
exist. For example, although it has been shown that two out of the 
thirteen shocks of August 19 and 20 might be identical with shocks 
of those dates in Asia Minor, other shocks amongst the remaining 
eleven follow those in Asia Minor at intervals exceeding one hour, whilst 
some precede them. The important feature in the European and Isle of 
Wight records is the approximate coincidence in time of groups of 
shocks. On August 12 and 20 there were a succession of violent dis- 
turbances in Asia Minor, and on the same dates we find a marked set of 
disturbances in the folded and faulted strata of the Isle of Wight. For 
the same places the same phenomenon is repeated on November 13 and 14. 
In the Isle of Wight, on the former date, between 8.30 and 11.30 p.m., 
forty-four sudden tiltings were recorded, whilst in Asia Minor, between 
9.30 on the 13th until the night of the 14th, there were violent shakings. 
Observations of this character suggest the idea that either unfelt earth- 
waves radiating from centre of violent activity disturb strata in a critical 
condition in distant places, or that the relief of strain in one portion of 
the globe cause readjustment in distant localities. Large earthquakes, like 
that of 1755, have apparently caused secondary earthquakes, whilst seis- 
mological chronology tells us that there have been periods when earth- 
quakes have been more frequent throughout the world than at others. 
Copies of this list have been sent to several of the principal observa- 
tories in Europe, where there is apparatus which might record similar 
disturbances. Up to date only three replies have been received, which are 
as follows :— 
Dr. Eschenhagen, Potsdam. 
1895. Nov. 9.—Schwingungen des Magnets von Lloyd’s Wage (Magnet liest 
Ost-West) nach den photographischen Curven ermittelt :— 
H. M. 
Beginn . . . - 1 24.6 Mittl. Zeit Potsdam 
Maximrm . : . wok 227.0 
Ende i 1h 27:8 
Amplitude sehr klein, c* 3 Bogenminute 
