Which may
thence exert a sufficient power to raise islands and continents, and
even to throw the moon from the earth.

If the moon be supposed to have been thus thrown out of the great
cavity which now contains the South Sea, the immense quantity of water
flowing in from the primeval ocean, which then covered the earth,
would much contribute to leave the continents and islands, which might
be raised at the same time above the surface of the water. In later
days there are accounts of large stones falling from the sky, which
may have been thus thrown by explosion from some distant earthquake,
without sufficient force to cause them to circulate round the earth,
and thus produce numerous small moons or satellites.

Mr. Mitchell observes, that the agitations of the earth from the great
earthquake at Lisbon were felt in this country about the same time
after the shock, as sound would have taken in passing from Lisbon
hither; and thence ascribes these agitations to the vibrations of the
solid earth, and not to subterraneous caverns of communication;
Philos. Transact. But from the existence of warm springs at Bath and
Buxton, there must certainly be unceasing subterraneous fires at some
great depth beneath those parts of this island; see on this subject
Botanic Garden, Vol. II. Canto IV. l. 79, note. For an account of the
noxious vapours emitted from volcanoes, see Botanic Garden, Vol. II.
Cant. IV. l. 328, note. For the milder effects of central fires, see
Botanic Garden, Vol. I. Cant. I. l. 139, and Additional Note VI.

ADDITIONAL NOTES. IV.

So from deep lakes the dread musquito springs,
Drinks the soft breeze, and dries his tender wings.
CANTO I. l. 327.

The gnat, or musquito, culex pipiens. The larva of this insect lives
chiefly in water, and the pupa moves with great agility. It is fished
for by ducks; and, when it becomes a fly, is the food of the young of
partridges, quails, sparrows, swallows, and other small birds. The
females wound us, and leave a red point; and in India their bite is
more venomous. The male has its antennae and feelers feathered, and
seldom bites or sucks blood; Lin. Syst. Nat.

It may be driven away by smoke, especially by that from inula
helenium, elecampane; and by that of cannabis, hemp. Kalm. It is said
that a light in a chamber will prevent their attack on sleeping
persons.

The gnats of this country are produced in greater numbers