Geology and Mineralogy. 313 
were brought down, and here and there stacks of wood were 
thrown over. One of the most striking features of the phenome- 
non was the extraordinarily large number of clocks that were 
instantly stopped, and this fact has afforded the best possible 
means of determining with something like perfect accuracy the 
time of the shocks, which varies from three to four minutes past 
six In the morning, Berne time. The large astronomical clock of 
the Observatory at Basle stopped exactly at 6h. 4m. 7s. This, 
taken as representing Berne time, corresponds with 5h. 43m. 35s, 
of Paris, 5h. 55m. 43s.:of Marseilles, 6h. 3m. 2s. of Nice, and 6h. 
24m. 3s. of Rome. 
The consecutive shocks, which were responsible for all the loss 
of life and damage to property, were centralized in the region of 
the Riviera. The greatest damage was done by the first two 
shocks, which occurred with an interval of fifteen minutes between 
them. The reports from the Swiss observatories also show that 
a series of feebler shocks were experienced in Switzerland later on 
in the same day, and also on several succeeding days.— Nature, 
March 10, No. 906. 
4, Karthquakes of Andalusia on the 25th of December, 1884. 
(Atti R. Accad. d. Lincei, iii, Roma, 1886.)—Messrs. T. Tara- 
MELLI and G. Mercauii have made a thorough study of the 
Andalusian earthquakes of 1884, and published a very valuable 
memoir on the subject, illustrated by geological and seismic maps. 
It is in three parts. The first treating of the orographic and 
geological constitution of Andalusia and the Province of Almeria; 
the second, a relation of the facts in order of occurrence and the 
' general conclusions from these and those of other earthquakes in 
Spain; the third, a review of the facts with reference to the 
isoseismic zones, the position and form of the seismic vertical or 
epicentrum, the velocity of propagation, the depth of the centre, 
intensity of the shocks, the dynamical effects as exemplified in the 
coudition of buildings ; also the consideration of the subsequent 
shocks until January, 1886, comparisons with those of other seis- 
mic areas of the Mediterranean basin, the nature and cause of the 
Andalusian earthquakes, and relation to other voleanic centers. 
In the second part, the following important conclusions are 
deduced : 
1, Earthquakes are much more frequent in the littoral region 
than in the interior of Spain, and more frequent in the southern 
than in the northern. 
2. The topographic and chronological distribution of the earth- 
quakes reveals the fact that there are several localized seismic 
centers in Spain, distinct and independent in their movements, 
yet not without reciprocal influence. 
3. Considering the chronological distribution of the earthquakes 
in the different Iberian regions, the seismic activity, as regards its 
more energetic manifestations, is transferred from one region to 
another at ‘long intervals of time. 
4, A fact very characteristic of the earthquakes of Southern 
