The Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, Volume 6Sir David Brewster, Robert Jameson Archibald Constable, 1822 - Science Contains the proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Wernerian Natural History Society (Edinburgh), etc. |
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Aberdeenshire acid æstate Alpnach Amarapura ancients angle antimony appears arsenic acid Avoirdupois Berzelius blue brass-wire Calyx carbonate characters clouds coast colour Columella common considerable contains corolla cryolite crystals cultivated cytisus described Dioscorides distance Dr Brewster edges Edinburgh electricity Erineum Europe examined experiments fathoms feet Flora foliis gallon genera glass gneiss green Greenland grows wild heat Heulandite Huygens inches insects iron islands Journal latitude latter length less lime Linnæus magnesia magnetic means measure mentioned metal microscope miles minerals mountains muriate native natural nearly needle observations Outer Hebrides oxide paper parallel pendulum planes plants Plate pole potash primary form prism probably Professor proportion Pursh quantity rays remarkable shews side silica species specific gravity specimens Stilbite Strontian substance sulphate sulphur sulphuret surface Taunu temperature Theophrastus tion trees tube tubis variety weight Zeolite
Popular passages
Page 140 - Young thinks it much more simple to suppose the absence or paralysis of those fibres of the retina which are calculated to perceive red ; while Dr.
Page 249 - But the most sublime scene is where a mural pile of porphyry, escaping the process of disintegration that is devastating the coast, appears to have been left as a sort of rampart against the inroads of the ocean ; the Atlantic, when provoked by wintry gales, batters against it with all the force of real artillery, the waves having, in their repeated assaults, forced themselves an entrance. This breach, named the Grind of the Navir...
Page 38 - ... prickles, are united by the burning sun, through the medium of the cementing calcareous sand, which has arisen from the pulverization of the above-mentioned shells into one whole or solid stone, which, strengthened by the continual throwing up of new materials, gradually increases in thickness, till it at last becomes so high, that it is covered only during some seasons of the year by the high tides.
Page 38 - ... and shells of marine animals between and upon the foundation stones. After this, the calcareous sand lies undisturbed, and offers to the seeds of trees and plants, cast upon it by the waves, a soil upon which they rapidly grow, to overshadow its dazzling white surface. Entire trunks of trees, which are carried by the rivers from other countries and islands, find here, at length, a restingplace after their long wanderings ; with these come some small animals, such as lizards and insects, as the...
Page 31 - There are also large quantities of the nitrate of allumine, or nitrate of argil, which will yield as much nitrate of potash, or saltpetre, in proportion to the quantities of earth, as the nitrate of lime. ' The three articles above enumerated, are first in quantity and importance ; but there are several others, which deserve notice as subjects of philosophical curiosity. The sulphat of...
Page 249 - ... themselves an entrance. This breach, named the Grind of the Navir, is widened every winter by the overwhelming surge that, finding a passage through it, separates large stones from its sides, and forces them to a distance of no less than 180 feet. In two or three spots, the fragments which have been detached are brought together in immense heaps, that appear as an accumulation of cubical masses, the product of some quarry.
Page 308 - The volumes of smoke and steam rolling upwards from the surface to a great height ; till they are gradually diffused through the atmosphere, or mingle with the heavier clouds that crown the summit of the mountains, produce a striking effect. The confused, rumbling, and hissing noise, that is heard for some time before we arrive in sight of the springs increases at last to an incessant and terrific roar, and seems to issue from the very spot on which we stand. The earth returns a hollow sound, and...
Page 340 - ... may be conveyed along the bottom, and preserve it moist. Adjoining to the central part (of the trough), other trees, also squared, are laid parallel to the former, in such a manner as to form a trough rounded in the interior, and of such dimensions as to allow the largest trees to lie or to move quite readily.
Page 366 - ... optics, so as to make the focal lengths of the two glasses in the direct ratio of their dispersive powers.
Page 339 - The accounts which he heard there of the forest just mentioned determined him to visit it ; and he was so much struck by its appearance, that, long and rugged as the descent was, he conceived the bold project of bringing down the trees, by no other force than their own weight, into the lake of Lucerne, from which the conveyance to the German Ocean was easy and expeditious. A more accurate survey of the ground convinced him of the practicability of the project. " He had, by this time, resided long...