_Examples of movements._—Lyell estimated that the average rate of rise in Scandinavia has been about two and a half feet per century. At the North Cape the rise may have been as much as five or six feet per century. Observations made at the temple of Jupiter Serapis, between October 1822 and July 1838, showed that the ground was sinking at the rate of about one inch in four years. Since the Roman period, when this temple was built, the ground has sunk twenty feet below the waves. Now the floor of the temple is on the level of the sea. Lyell remarks that if we reflect on the dates of the principal oscillations at this place there appears to be connection between the movements of upheaval and a local development of volcanic heat, whilst periods of depression are concurrent with periods of volcanic quiescence.[154] As examples of movements even more rapid than those at the Temple of Jupiter Serapis we refer to an account of the earthquakes in Vallais (November 1755), when the ground about a mountain at a small distance from Brigue sank about a thumb’s-breadth every twenty-four hours. This took place between December 9 and February 26.[155] Another remarkable example of earth movement is given in the account of the earthquake at Scarborough, on December 29, 1737, when the head of the spa water well was forced up in the air about ten yards high. At this time the sands on the shore are said to have risen so slowly that people came out to watch them.[156] Two other examples of rapid earth movement are taken from Professor Rossi’s ‘Meteorologia Endogena.’ Professor D. Seghetti, writing to Professor Rossi, says that a few lustres ago (one lustre = twenty years) Mount S. Giovanni hid the towns Jenne and Subiaco from each other. From Subiaco the church at Jenne is now visible, which a few years ago was invisible. The people at Jenne also can see more than formerly. The supposition is that the side of Mount S. Giovanni is lowered. This fact corresponds to a fact stated by Professor Carina, who says that forty or fifty years ago from Granaiola you could not see either the church of S. Maria Assunta di Citrone or the church of S. Pietro di Corsena. Now you can see both.[157] For a remarkable example illustrating the connection between seismic activity and elevation we are indebted to the patient labours of Darwin, who carefully investigated the evidences of elevation which are visible upon the western coasts of South America. These evidences, consisting of marks of erosion, caves, ancient beaches, sand dunes, terraces of gravel, &c., were traced between latitudes 45° 35′ to 12° 5′, a distance north and south of 2,075 geographical miles, and there is but little doubt that they extend much farther. As deduced from observations upon upraised shells alone, a summary of Mr. Darwin’s observations are contained in the following table:—