PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 



145 



contain well-preserved specimens of Anthracotherium magnum, Cnv., 

 of which teeth or portions of jaws are in the possession of the Vienna 

 Imperial Geological Institute. 



Earthquakes and their connection with Meteorological Phenomena. 



A letter addressed from M. Jnlms Schmidt, astronomer at the 

 observatory, at Athens, to Director Haidinger, gives details of an 

 earthquake felt there on Jnly 4th, 1860, at half-past six p.m.. At 

 the same time a violent thunderstorm was rising above Monnt 

 Hymettus, and low clonds of a qnite nncommon form began to cover 

 the top of the mountains. M. Jul. Schmidt has stated the coinci- 

 dence between atmospheric phenomena and subterraneous commotions 

 of a probably local nature being circumscribed within the geological 

 system of Mount Hymettus. The observations of this able astro- 

 nomer have given the following results : 



1852. July 16th, evening : commotion ; strong thunderstorm on 

 Mount Hymettus ; abundant rain ; clouds of striking form on the 

 mountains. 



1860. Feb. 6th, morning : commotion ; thunder- stroke on Mount 

 Hymettus ; clouds of uncommon form on this mountain, persisting 

 during half an hour. 



1860. July 4th, evening : commotion ; violent thunderstorm on 

 Mount Hymettus ; clouds of fantastic forms. 



At the date of this letter (July 7th) M. Schmidt was specially 

 employed in observing the new comet. During May 1860 he joined 

 Prof. Unger of "Vienna in a tour through Eubcea (where he mea- 

 sured Mount Delph, or Diphis, one thousand seven hundred metres 

 in height, or about five thousand four hundred feet, Bceotia, and 

 back to Athens through Eleusis. Interesting facts concerning the 

 topography and hydrography of Bceotia were the result of this 

 excursion. On July 9th M. Schmidt was to set out for Egina for 

 two days. The Greek government has directed the provincial 

 authorities to collect evidences concerning earthquakes, and to trans- 

 mit them to the observatory at Athens. 



PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 



Geological Society of London. — December 5, 1860. 



t£ On the Structure of the North-west Highlands, and the relations of the 

 Gneiss, Red Sandstone, and Qnartzite of Sutherland and lioss-shire." By 

 Professor James Nicol, F.G.S. 



The author first ref erred to his paper in the Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, vol. 

 xiii., pp. 17, &c. in which the order of the red sandstone on gneiss, and of 

 quartzite and limestone on the sandstone was described, and in which the rela- 

 tion of the eastern gneiss or mica-schist to the qnartzite was stated to be 

 somewhat obscure on account of the presence of intrusive rocks and other 

 marks of disturbance. Having examined the country four times, with the view 

 of settling some of the doubtful points in the sections, the author now offered 

 VOL. IV. T 



