96 Correspondence—MUr. A. G. Cameron—Errata. 
iron tube inserted in the covers of the well and running up along- 
side of the pump. With an outward blast, this “buzzer,” it is said, 
can be heard a mile off. 
Mr. Fairley, the county analyst, pronounces the water “a hard 
water of good quality for drinking, but not for any purposes where 
softness is mainly due.” On raising the covers of the well, the 
water is seen in a state of ebullition, which soon ceases. 
The existence of a cavern in the strata has been suggested as the 
cause of the blowing wells in this district. ‘The very considerable 
thickness of sandstone that probably intervenes between the bottom 
of the well, and the underlying Magnesian Limestone—the unlike- 
lihood of any cavern existing in the sandstone itself—and the almost 
certain tendency the glacial sands would have to fall through any 
opening of the kind, causing a depression on the surface of the soil, 
of which there is no evidence, for the wells are situated on dome- 
shaped ridges of drift-covered sandstone, incline me to look for 
another reason for the phenomenon. Iam more disposed to think 
that, taking into account the fissures in the sandstone, its origin may 
be traced to causes similar to those which produce explosions in coal- 
mines. These, I understand, generally take place at or about the 
time the barometer has reached its lowest point. 
Mr. Hutton, of Solberge, takes much interest in the peculiar action 
on the part of his well, and registers the changes in velocity and 
temperature of the blast by means of the anemometer and ther- 
mometer. The barometrical observations, as already noticed, show 
that the direction of the current is dependent upon the weight of the 
atmosphere. 
Mr. Fox-Strangways, F.G.S., tells me that he believes the great 
currents of air which issue from large caverns are more generally 
influenced by temperature than by barometrical changes, and that 
he has been struck with the enormous current of air which issues 
from the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, but which is an incurrent 
during the night. 
The existence of such wells, as are above described, is unknown 
to me elsewhere than in this neighbourhood.’ Any information as to 
their occurrence in other parts of the country, might help to throw 
light upon a subject which is at present a puzzle to many in this 
district, and is, I cannot but think, well worthy of further investi- 
gation. There are borings or wells called ‘“‘blow wells” on the 
Lincolnshire wolds, and on the coast of Essex, but J am unac- 
quainted with their history. A. G. CaMERon, 
NortHanuerton, Dec., 1879. H.M. Geol Survey. 
1 See Blowing Well near Preston described by J. Rofe, F.G.S., Gzon. Mac. 1867, 
Vol. IY. p. 106. - 
Errata in Mr. W. Davies’s paper, January, 1880. 
Page 19, line 25 from top, for ‘‘rapprochait,’’ read ‘‘rapproche.” 
» 25, 5, 18 from bottom, for ‘ la,” read ‘le.’ : 
», 26, ,, 23 from top, for ‘ Pelicanus,’ read “ Pelecanus,’ and in all 
subsequent instances to p. 27. 
Errarum—January, 1880. In Mr. Kinahan’s article, p. 29, line. 28, for 
Killarney read Killary. 
