Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 004.djvu/148

 to have found it a much other thing, than they imagined, though related to them viva voce by those who had formerly been there.

I shall add, that the whole country from the very Walls of Catania to 20. miles on this side is full of those old Sciarri, which former Eruptions have cast forth, though the people remember none so biqg as this last, or that burst out so low. This Country is notwithstanding well cultivated and inhabited; for length of time hath either mollified much of those old Sciarri, or new mould or ashes have overgrown them; though there still remains much Country, which, it may be, will never be made serviceable.

What is the perpendicular hight of this Mountain, I cannot learn. It cannot perhaps be rightly taken, being so subject to alter its height and shape. But it is a very goodly Mountain to look upon, as one passes by Sea to the East-ward, standing alone by it self, rising from the very shore; and at shortest passage is reckoned 20. miles up to the top, though from Catania it hath 30. milcs, as before.

I. '' de   sur   du. A Paris 1669, in'' 12.

N the beginning of this Discourse the Author represents, that those, who search after solid knowledge, will find nothing satisfactory. in all that hath been hitherto written concerning the Brain: that all, which Anatomists agree in, is only, that it consists of two Substances, a White and a Grayish, and that the former is continued with the Nerves, that are distributed through the whole Body; and the latter serves in some places for a kind of Cortex to the White, and in others, severs the white filaments from one another. But that they are yet ignorant, what those substances are; in what manner the Nerves are Joyned in the White; and how farr their extremities advance in it; from which disposition yet depends all the diversity and variety of our sensations and motions. And as for the Ventricies or Cavities of the Brain, he affirmes them to be no less unknown, than its Substance; some Anatomists