REVIEWS, TRANSLATIONS, AND SELECTED ARTICLKS. 125 



Messrs. Quoy and Gaimard found in the Atlantic Ocean, in the 

 vicinity of the Equator, the remains of an enormous moUuak of the 

 game family. They estimated the weight of the animal to which 

 these belonged, to exceed 100 kilogrammes. Eang, also, saw in the 

 same waters, a cephalopod of a red colour, and as large, according to 

 his description, as a cask of the capacity of a tun. We are indebted 

 likewise to Professor Steenstrup, of Copenhagen, for some very 

 interesting observations on a gigantic cephalopod which was cast on 

 the coast of Jutland in 1853. It is described by Professor Steen- 

 strup under the name of Architheuthis dux. After the creature had 

 been dismembered by the fishermen, and partly used for bait, its 

 remains filled several barrows ; and the pharynx, which had been 

 preserved, is as large as a child's head. Finally, during the past 

 year (1860) M. Harting described and figured various portions of 

 an enormous animal of this family, preserved in the museum of 

 Utrecht. We can scarcely imagine that these different observations 

 refer to one and the same species. In all probability, therefore, 

 several gigantic species of cephalopods, greatly surpassing in size aU 

 known Invertebrates, will be found to exist in the Atlantic and other 

 oceans. 



2. On some Points connected with the Recent Eruption of Vesu- 

 vius : — The same number of the Gomptes Rendus contains some in- 

 teresting communications on the late eruption of Vesuvius. During 

 this eruption, an actual elevation of the district, to the height of 

 several feet, is shewn to have taken place. The elevation appears to 

 have gone on slowly during two or three days, and to have extended 

 over a very considerable area. In a paper by Professor Guiscardi, 

 the following statement is made with regard to this upheaval of the 

 land : — " The next day [the 15th of December, 1861, the eruption 

 having taken place on the 8th] I returned to Torre del Greco with 

 Professors Palmieri and Napoli. M. Palmieri drew my attention to 

 the inundated space around the public fountain. On the sea coast, 

 carbonic acid was emitted through fissures in the lava of 1794, and 

 also from the sea, causing in the latter a strong ebullition. M. Pal- 

 mieri pointed out to me a long band of a whitish colour above the 

 level of the water. We engaged a boat, and reaching the spot, found 

 the height of this zone above the sea level to be 1*12 metre [=3 feet 

 8 inches]. It was covered with balani, patellae, fissurellse, oysters, &c., 

 and with various bryozoons. There can be no doubt, consequently, as 



