Miscellanies. 191 



od when Olivier visited Santorin. the fishermen of the island asserted 

 that the bottom of the sea had recently risen considerably between 

 the island of Little Kaimeni and the Port of Thera ; in fact the 

 soundings did not give a greater depth than fifteen to twenty fathoms, 

 where formerly the bottom could not be reached. When Colonel 

 Bory and the author visited the island in 1829, they were able not 

 only to confirm the truth of Olivier's statement, but also to ascertain 

 by various soundings, that the rise of the submarine land had contin- 

 ued, and that at the point indicated the depth was not more than four 

 fathoms and a half. In 1830, the same observers made new sound- 

 ings, which enabled them to determine the form and extent of the 

 mass of rock, which in less than a year had been elevated half a 

 fathom. It was found to extend 800 metres from east to west, and 

 500 from north to south. The submarine surface augmented grad- 

 ually to the north and west, from four to 29 fathoms, while to the east 

 and south this augmentation amounted to forty-five fathoms. Be- 

 yond this limit, the soundings indicated in all directions a very great 

 depth. I have lately been informed that Admiral Lalande, who, 

 since 1830, has twice returned to Santorin, ascertained that the 

 rock still continues to rise; and that, in September, 1835, the date 

 of his last visit, the depth of water amounted to only two fathoms, 

 so that a sunken reef now exists which it is dangerous for brigs to 

 approach. If the rock continues to rise at the same rate, it may be 

 calculated that in 1840, it will form a new island, without, however, 

 those catastrophes which this phenomenon seems to presage for the 

 gulf of Santorin, being a necessary consequence of the epoch of its 

 appearance at the surface of the water. Since the eruptions of 1707, 

 and 1712, which produced the new Kaimeni, volcanic phenomena 

 have completely ceased in the gulf of Santorin, and the volcano 

 seems at the present day quite extinct. Nevertheless, the rise of a 

 portion of its surface seems to demonstrate continual efforts to make 

 an eruption during fifty years ; and that, whenever the resistance 

 shall not be strong enough to offer a sufficient obstacle, the volcano 

 will again resume its activity." — Edin. JVew Phil. Jour. July, 1836. 



15. Hail. — After a violent storm at Clermont, MM. Bouillet and 

 Lecoq found a number of hail-stones as large as hens' eggs, and 

 some others as large as those of turkeys. They were all of an 

 ellipsoidal form, and seemed formed of a multitude of needles, united 

 to the extremities of the great axis. They were from eight lines to 



