for a complete double vibration. The second series of vibrations occurred after an interval of 5 seconds, and lasted 11 seconds.

The direction of vibration was NNE and SSW. It was felt at Boston a minute and three quarters before reaching New Haven. At Cleveland, Ohio, it was felt at the same time as at New Haven. "Slight vibrations were felt as far south as Richmond, Va., and as far west as Dubuque, Iowa." Prof. Bell, of the Geological Survey, informs me that the shock was felt at Sault St. Marie, and on the North Shore of Lake Superior, and was ac companied by a cracking or rending sound in the rocks.

The following account of the Meteorological Phenomena, attending the earthquake at Montreal, is contributed by Dr. Smallwood of the McGill College observatory.

"Rain fell on the 13th day, followed by a rise in the Barometer, and a splendid display of the Aurora Borealis on the night of the 14th day. Numerous and very large spots were present on the solar disc, which had been the case for some considerable time, more especially during the presence of the Aurora on the nights of the 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th days of last month. (September.)

"The maximum reading of the Barometer at 7 a. m. on the morning of the 16th day, indicated 30.215 inches, and was succeeded by a very fine, warm day, the mean temperature of which was 63.9 degrees, wind S. W. Showers of rain fell on the 17th from 10 a. m. till 3 p. m., with a west wind and with a falling Barometer, which at 9 p. m. of that day stood at 30.000 inches. From 1 a. m. of the 18th (Tuesday) a very rapid and sudden fall was observed, viz: 0.639 of an inch in six hours, and it attained its minimum, 29.361 inches, at 7 a. m. on that day.

"From that hour a gradual and somewhat sudden rise took place accompanied by a very heavy gale of wind. The clouds were passing from the West, but the wind veered to all points of the compass. The register of the Anemometer at the Observatory shows a complete disc of concentric circles, with a velocity varying from 35 to 15 miles per hour.

"There was also a rise of 0.507 of an inch in the Barometer, with a falling temperature. Frost occurred during the night, and a good breeze continued from the West. The Thermometer at 7 a. m. showed 33.1 degrees, and the Barometer 30.070 inches.

"From this time the temperature rose and the Barometer fell, and this morning at 7 a. m., stood at 29.499 inches. Rain set in

during the night, and at 7 o'clock 0.214 of an inch had fallen. Thermometer 42 degrees. Wind S. W. Mean velocity, 3.14 miles per hour.

"At 11 h. 17 m. Montreal mean time, a very considerable shock of an earthquake was felt generally throughout the city; the first series of vibrations lasted for from 10 to 15 seconds, and was succeeded by a slight interval of a few seconds, when a second shock occurred, of less duration and of less intensity, lasting from 5 to 8 seconds. No wave of sound was perceptible, and the wave of motion was undulating and in a straight line (rectilinear) and of considerable relaxation. Domestic articles rocked to and fro, but no damage to buildings has resulted.

"The magnets were very seriously affected at 10.30.

The barometer continued to fall after the first shock. At 2 p. m. it stood at 29.299 inches; thermometer 44.8 degrees; wind S. W., with rain. Professor Kingston telegraphed me that the magnets at the Toronto Observatory showed slight shocks at 10 minutes to 11."

"As usual with Canadian earthquakes, this was felt most severely on the Lower St. Lawrence, more especially at the junction of the Lower Silurian and Laurentian formations in the vicinity of Bay St. Paul, Murray Bay, and the Saguenay. The following graphic account is given by Rev. Mr. Plamondon, Parish Priest of Bay St. Paul, in a letter to "L'Evenement.”

"Un mot à la hâte pour vous faire connaître les désastres causés, tout à coup ici et dans les environs, par le tremblement de terre le plus étrange qui soit arrivé de mémoire d'hommes. Environ une demi-heure avant midi, un coup de foudre (c'est la seule dénomination que je puisse lui donner) une énorme détonation a jeté tout le monde dans la stupeur et la terre s'est mise non à trembler, mais à bouillonner de manière à donner le vertige, nonseulement à tous ceux qui étaient dans les maisons, mais encore à ceux qui étaient en plein air. Toutes les habitations semblaient être sur un volcan, et la terre se fendillant en cinq ou six endroits, lançait des colonnes d'eau à six, huit et peut-être quinze pieds en l'air, entraînant après elles une quantité de sable qui s'est étendu sur le sol. Presque toutes les cheminées se sont écroulées, ne pense pas qu'il en soit resté six debout dans tout le village. Des pans de maisons se sont abattus, et ici et là les poëles, meubles et autres objets ont été renversés, emportant avec eux les ustensiles, la vaisselle, etc.

de sorte que je

"Notre couvent, qui était sous la direction des bonnes sœurs de la Congrégation est inhabitable pour le moment, trois cheminées et le plafond des mansardes étant démolis en partie. Trois élèves et une servante de cet établissement on été blessées par des pierres provenant de l'éboulement des cheminées: cependant aucune d'elles n'est gravement atteinte.

L'église a beaucoup souffert; une partie de son portail s'est écroulée, emportant un morceau de la voûte, et le reste des murs est tellement lésardé qu'il est douteux qu'on puisse les réparer.

"La stupeur a été telle que pendant les trois ou quatre minutes qu'a duré la secousse, tout le monde pensait que c'en était fini, et que nous allions tous périr. Nous sommes encore sur le qui vive; car de temps en temps de légères secousses se font encore sentir. Chacun redoute la nuit prochaine et se demande où il sera demain matin. Il est certain que si cette catastrophe fut arrivée pendant la nuit, nous aurions à déplorer la perte d'un grand nombre de vies.

"Il nous est venu des gens de diverses concessions, de sorte que nous avons des nouvelles d'un circuit d'environ quatre lieues et nulle part il n'est resté une habitation intacte, partout la secousse a été aussi violente. A l'heure où j'écris ces lignes, la terre tremble encore, et qui sait si je pourrai terminer. Aussi veuillez excuser le décousu de ces quelques détails que je vous donne à la hâte, ainsi que les fautes qui peuvent s'y être glissées." Other correspondents mention the opening of chasms in the ground, from which streams of water and sand burst forth. This phenomenon arises from the landslips produced in the terraces of Post-pliocene clay which in that part of the country rest against the steep sides of the Laurentian hills. These are ready to slide downward with any slight movement of the earth, and to press the water out of the sandy layers associated with them, or give outlet to hidden springs and streams.

It is also stated, that a mass of rock 400 feet in length fell from the face of the cliff, at Cape Trinity, in the Saguenay. Cape Trinity is a cliff of Laurentian gneiss, presenting to the river a vertical front about 1500 feet high.

It will be observed that the earthquake of Oct. 20th extended over 25 degrees of longitude, from the Bay of Fundy westward, and over at least 12 degrees of latitude from the North Shore of the St. Lawrence, southward. Its extension to the northward into Rupert's Land, is not yet known.

The general direction of the vibration, as shown by the times at the different places mentioned above, and by observatious of Prof. Winslow, at Cambridge, and by Mr. Douglas, at Quebec, was from north east to south west. The shock must therefore have been propagated from the Laurentian regions north of the St. Lawrence, into the Silurian and later formations to the southward. This is of interest in connection with the facts already related as to its severity at the edge of the Laurentian formation at Bay St. Paul, and elsewhere.

It is also deserving of notice, that at Bay St. Paul and Les Eboulements several shocks are recorded; and that additional shocks are stated to have occurred at the latter place on the 26th October, six days after the principal shock.

It has been observed on previous occasions that the Barometer is low at the time of the occurrence of earthquakes, in Eastern America. Dr. Smallwood, has kindly furnished the following table in illustration of this. It gives the state of the Barometer at Montreal, on the days of eleven of the most recent earthquakes felt here.

It will be observed that the Barometer was unusually low on the day of the late earthquake, and according to information. kindly sent to Dr. Smallwood from the observatory at Washington, this was very general over the continent.

It is thus extremely probable, that, whatever the primary cause of the movement, its occurrence on the particular day in question, may have been determined by this removal of pressure from the surface of the land. It is further to be observed, that this would place the phenomena in harmony with that general cause to which the frequent small earthquakes on the Eastern Coast of America, were formerly assigned by the writer, namely the removal of material from the land, and its accumulation on the banks off the American Coast, producing unequal pressure and

consequent tension of the earth's crust, and this connected with the ascertained slow subsidence of the coast, and perhaps with slight elevation of the interior of the continent.

In a notice of the earthquake in Silliman's Journal, for January, 1871, by Mr. A. C. Twining, the following statement occurs with reference to the intensity of the shocks at Bay St. Paul and Les Eboulements-" They are in general conformity to what has long been known to British geologists, respecting the volcanic character of the region specified," with some other remarks based on this strange statement, which has actually no foundation in fact, other than the junction, at those places, of the Laurentian and Lower Silurian rocks, and the occurrence of thick beds of Post-pliocene clay, resting on inclined rock surfaces, and therefore very liable to slip. Captain Bonnycastle's ideas on the subject, referred to by Mr. Twining, were probably founded merely on the irregular contour of the surface, the occurrence of crystalline Laurentian rocks, and the exaggerated accounts of land-slips in previous earthquakes, contained in the memoirs of the Jesuits.

NOTE-A slight shock of Earthquake was felt at Hawkesbury on the Ottawa, on the 3rd January. Dr. Smallwood states that, though not appreciable at Montreal, it was indicated by the Seismometer.

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF NEWFOUNDLAND.

By HENRY REEKS, F.L.S., &c.

(Continued from page 159.)

TETRAONIDE.

Canada Grouse, or Spruce Partridge, Tetrao canadensis, Linn. -A very rare and uncertain visitor from the mainland: two killed, and two others seen by the settlers during my residence at Cow Head.

Willow Grouse, Lagopus albus (Gmelin).-Common throughout the year, and the only lowland or subalpine species indigenous to Newfoundland. From my own experience I think the willow grouse invariably roost on the ground, although I have frequently shot them when feeding in the tops of birch and alder trees, more

VOL. V.

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No. 3.