506 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Feb. 24, 



tinguished, almost in a normal position, Cyprtea lurida, Lamk., Turbo 

 rugosus L., Patella carulea, Lamk.(?), Patella scutellaris, Lamk., 

 and Balanus balanoides, Rang. 



Along the shore from the Pietra degli Uccelli northwards there are 

 a great quantity of blocks of prismatic lava, some of the size of 4 to 7 

 decimetres, perfectly rolled, and others subangular, masses of 1 and 

 3 cubic metres, to which adheres a shelly calcareo-marine deposit of 

 the recent epoch. 



These blocks, thus rolled and subangular, are generally corroded 

 on the surface by the chemical action of the chloride of sodium of the 

 sea-water ; and this condition extends for many metres above the 

 sea-level to the northern side of the provincial road, in the farm of 

 bignor Zappola and of Barone Sisto. Here these blocks rest on the 

 pleistocene formation, which succeeds to that of the Terre Forte of 

 Catania, and which is seen at Cefali, Leucatia, S. Paolo, and Catira • 

 they are generally 2 or 3 metres in thickness, usually corroded like 

 a wasp s nest on the surface. 



At the height of about 14 metres above the level of the sea is an 

 oval block, well rolled, 8 decimetres long and 4 wide, encrusted by 

 berpulce. At a few paces from it is seen another block of prismatic 

 lava of the enormous size of 7 cubic metres, about 13 metres above 

 the level of the sea, also corroded on the surface by sea-salt, to the 

 northern face of which Serpulas are adhering; and in a crack was 

 found a shell, which I believe to be Cardita calyculata, Brug 

 which is living on our shores. On the surface of the soil have been 

 found many shells in a sub-fossil state, among which the most prevail- 

 ing are Trochus fragraoides, Lamk., Trochus articulatus, Lamk., 

 Bonax trunculus, L., and Patella scutellaris, Lamk., which, although 

 they have been generally referred to the pleistocene fauna, must be 

 rather considered, as Sir C. Lyell pointed out to me on the spot, as 

 shells of the more modern epoch or raised coast. 



To the south of Aci Trezza, a group of basalts raise their crests 

 above the sea, and are commonly called the Faraglioni, or Cyclopean 

 rocks, the largest of which is called the Island, or Faraglione grande, 

 and on their surface they have clay more or less altered by the intru- 

 sion of basalt. 



Beginning an examination of them from west to east, we first see 

 the so-called Faraglionelli di Passaggio, which are, in my opinion, the 

 most important in the researches in which I am occupied. On their 

 sides we find attached large pieces of a calcareo-siliceous shelly marine 

 deposit of the actual epoch, of which the highest is 5 metres 6 deci- 

 metres above the level of the sea. It is everywhere bored horizon- 

 tally by the Modiola lithophaga, Lamk., which is sometimes found 

 entire, and sometimes in various states of alteration. Besides 

 this, I have also found adhering the Lima squarrosa, Area Noce, 

 Cardita calyculata, Spondylus gcederopus, Murex trimcatus, Den- 

 talium entale, Ostrea plicatula, Vermetus gigas, Vermetus triqueter 

 and many Serpulce identical with those which live on the correspond- 

 ing coast. 



The Faraglione of the Birds (degli Uccelli) presents also on its 



