Notice of Active and Extinct Volcanos. 267 



lak at foity six millions ninety eight thousand seven hundred 

 and sixty six cubic feet. It is remarkable that among the 

 ejections of Vesuvius, including chiefly those of the ancient 

 mountain, more than one third of the minerals of the globe 

 are included. 



The gaseous exhalations from Vesuvius are principally sul- 

 phureous and muriatic acid gases and some nitrogen and much 

 aqueous vapor : the latter is often the sole emission from the 

 fumaroles that surround the crater, when the mountain is quiet. 

 Fatal exhalations or moffettes are given out from the crevices 

 of the mountain ; they run into the neighboring cellars and 

 destroy the vegetation in the fields ; they are supposed to be 

 chiefly carbonic acid gas. 



We omit the mention of the facts connected with the dis- 

 cussion respecting the reputed change in the elevation of the 

 temple at Puzzuoli, although it is evident from the hot springs 

 which now gush out from its side, as they did one thousand six 

 hundred years ago, that no very great change can have hap- 

 pened. 



Much more decisive evidence of change is presented by the 

 Monte Nuovo whose rise on the northern side of the bay of 

 Baioe, is thus described by our author. 



Monte Nuovo. 



" Vesuvius had at that time been for a long interval tranquil, 

 but a succession of earthquakes had taken place in the country 

 for two years previously. At length on the 28th of September, 

 of the year 1538, flames broke from the ground between Lake 

 Avernus, Mount Barbaro, and the Solfatara, followed by several 

 rents of the earth from which water sprung, whilst the sea re- 

 ceded two hundred feet from the shore, leaving it quite dry. At 

 last, on the 29th, about two hours after sun-set, there opened 

 near the sea a gulph, from which smoke, flames, pumice and other 

 stones, and mud were thrown up, with the noise of thunder. 



" In about two days the ejected masses, formed a mountain 413 

 feet in perpendicular height, and 8000 feet in circumference. 

 The eruption finally ceased on the 3d of October. On this day 

 the mountain was accessible, and those Who ascended it reported, 

 that they found a funnel-shaped opening on the summit — a crater, 

 a quarter of a mile in circumference." 



" The Monte Nuovo is composed entirely of fragments of sco- 

 riform matter, or of a compact rock of an ash grey color, some- 

 times resembling trachyte, and at others approaching to porphyry 

 slate. The scoriform matters include pumice, and most other 



