260 Notice of Active and Extinct Vohanos. 



its vicinity, are of volcanic origin, but that there are evi- 

 dences of a still subsisting languid volcanic action. 



" It would appear, that these indications, (if they may be so 

 considered,) of languid volcanic action, were more extensively 

 distributed about the neighborhood in earlier periods than at the 

 present. Thus Varro makes mention of warm baths near the 

 temple of Janus., whence the spot obtained the name of Lautolce 

 " a Lavando ; v a spot on the Esquiline Hill was called Puticulcs, 

 from the sulphureous smell which it emitted; and the wood con- 

 secrated to the Goddess Mephitis renders it probable that a nox- 

 ious gas arose from that place. All these have now ceased, and 

 nothing remains but the Lago de Solfatara to remind us of their 

 existence. 



" It is remarkable that no kind of animal is seen near this water, 

 a circumstance which can only be attributed to the noxious quali- 

 ties of the sulphuretted hydrogen, for the Lago de Tartaro near, 

 so well known for its calcareous incrustations, contains abundance 

 of molluscae. Shells are also rare in the ancient travertine near 

 Rome. 



"The existence of masses of this latter substance, on the very 

 summits of the Seven Hills proves, that at the period of its form- 

 ation, the site of Rome must have been covered with water to 

 the depth of at least one hundred and forty feet. 



" From the character of the shells sometimes contained in the 

 Travertine, which Brocchi has ascertained to belong to existing 

 species, we may conclude that the water, which deposited it, 

 was not impregnated with salt, and are consequently enabled to 

 fix the date of the volcanic tuff which accompanies these Neptu- 

 nian deposits, as corresponding with that of the latest fresh water 

 formation. 



"Brocchi has further shewn, that the beds above noticed all 

 rest upon a formation containing oysters and other marine shells, 

 which is seen underlying the rest at the Monte Mario, and in the 

 excavations made at the foot of the Capitoline Hill." 



Rome to Naples. — After passing the Pontine marshes, the 

 traveller comes to the town of Sessa, standing on volcanic 

 tufa, which covers the ruins of an ancient city, built like 

 Herculaneum. A chamber with antique frescos and an 

 ampitheatre have been discovered, by digging, and not far 

 off, a rivulet has uncovered streams of lava. But there is 

 neither history nor tradition of the eruption or of the volcano. 



" Rocca Monfina seems to retain the vestiges of the great origi- 

 nal crater from which these volcanic masses proceeded. la 



