ON CERTAIN RECENT CHANGES IN THE CRATER OF STROM BOLT. 127 
as having run down the Sciara in June, 1891, from bocca 3. It is 
noticeable that this discharge of lava took place from a bocca which 
usually is quiet and fumarolic in its action, and not from the usually 
explosive area 4 and 5. 
In 1889 the English Geologists’ Association visited Stromboli, and 
Plate V., from a photograph by Mr. G. S. Eunson, who was one of the 
party, shows that changes were already commencing. 
Signor Guiseppe Renda, postmaster of Stromboli, informed me that 
about 1890 a stream of lava with three tongues issued from the crater 
and ran down the Sciara. He fixed the date as having been two years 
after the great eruption of Yulcano in 1898. This corresponds probably 
with the eruption described by Profs. Ricco and Mercali as above. 
Scattered through the volumes of the Bolletino della Societa Sismo- 
logica Italiana siuce their commencement in 1895, are numerous notices 
by Prof. Ricco and Signor Arcidiacono, both of the Reale Osservatorio 
of Catania, on the state of the activity of the volcanoes of Sicily and the 
adjacent islands. These are virtually inaccessible to English readers, 
as only about two copies appear to find their way into this country, but, 
thanks to the courtesy of Prof. Milne, f.r.s., I have been able to 
abstract the following information. 
1895. Stromboli was in its usual characteristic state of eruption, 
except that on March 29 a very violent explosion occurred in corre¬ 
spondence with a slight shock of earthquake felt in several places in 
Calabria. There followed towards the end of the year several violent 
explosions sufficiently severe to shake the island. A small stream of 
lava issued from the Sciara below the bocca 4 this year or in 1894. 
1896. Stromboli was in its usual condition during the whole year, 
except that on July 13 there was a severe explosion, by which masses 
of incandescent lava and scoria were thrown to a great distance, and 
some damage was done to the vineyards by fires in consequence. The 
whole island was enveloped in a cloud of ash, and the noise was heard 
very plainly at Lipari. A slight shock of earthquake was felt at Palini, 
in Calabria. 
1897. Nothing special was recorded. 
1898. Stromboli was chiefly in its usual state. It was more 
active than usual in October, and unusually quiet in November. 
On September 14, 1898, Signor A. Semprivi Capo Posto Semaphoro 
di Stromboli ascended the mountain, and, all being quiet, was able to 
ascend the western Faraglioni (Torrella), commanding a good view of 
the craters from above, and found the relative positions of the bocche 
had not materially varied since the original report by Prof. Ricco, 
Mercali, and Archidiacono in 1891. No. 5 was still in action, 
but its direction somewhat changed, so that it could scarcely be 
seen from the semaphore. It appeared to be the point from which 
most of the larger explosions took place. On October 28, 1898, Prof. 
