The New Geyser, as it was called by Sir John Stanley, is about 130 paces from the great one. It is an irregular ly shaped pit, nine feet in its greatest diameter. About 20 feet below the orifice, which is not surrounded by an accumulation of silicious matter as the other, the water is Seel) in great agitation. At irregular intervals, the water is tossed out of the pit to a great height, followed by a pro digious rush of steam, accompanied by a roaring noise. The force is so great that, even when there is a good deal of wind, the vapour forms a perpendicular column nearly 70 or 80 feet high ; and when large stones are thrown into the pit, they are shivered to pieces, and thrown out to a height often far beyond that of the jet of vapour and water.
At the time Mr Hooker saw it, there was a greater quantity of water than when either Sir John Stanley or Sir George Mackenzie witnessed its eruptions. Indeed, what Mr Hooker has described as a column of water, Sir George Mackenzie describes as one of vapour. When we consider the immense power of the agent which sets these grand waterworks in play, it is by no means difficult to suppose frequent alterations in their movement and ap pearance. The destruction of a natural valve, or a slight change in the configuration of the subterraneous pipes and cavities, might occasion variations in the phenomena from time to time.
The most curious of all the springs in Iceland is the Tunguhver, in the valley of Reikholt. Among a great number of boiling springs are two cavities, within a yard of each other, from which the water spouts alternately. While from one the water is thrown about ten feet high in a narrow jet, the other cavity is full of water boiling vio lently. This iet continues about four minutes, and then subsides, when the water from the other immediately rises in a thicker column to the height of three or four feet. This continues about three minutes, when it sinks. and the other rises, and so on alternately. It is difficult to imagine the structure of the cavities which occasion this irregular alternation; nor would it be easy to construct a piece of mechanism, of which steam is the prime mover, to imitate the phenomena.
In the middle of the river, which runs through the valley of Reikholt, is a small rock, from the top of which hot springs issue. At Reikholt is a bath, which was construc ted 600 years ago by the famous Si.orro Sturleson. It is
fot]rteen feet in diameter, and six feet deep, being suppli ed with hot water from a spring about a hundred yards distant, by means of a covered conduit which has been much damaged by an earthquake. There was also a spring of cold water brought to it, so that any desired tempera ture might be obtained.
On the sulphur mountains, in the district of Guldbringt'a are a number of jets of steam, and natural cauldrons of black boiling mud ; and there is scarcely a district in the whole island without such indications of sublerrancous beat, which must occasion the most singular contrast with the winter snows and ice, through which, at that season, they rise.
At Reykum in the south, and near Husavik in the north, are hot springs, which come next to the Geysers in mag nificence.
The zoology of Iceland presents nothing remarkable. Of indigenous quadrupeds the number is very small, and must be limited to the fox, of which there are two varie ties, the Canis lagopus, and Fuliginosus. The rein-deer. the rat, and the mouse, have all been imported ; as well as the domestic animals, the dog, the cat, the goat, the sheep, the ox, and the horse. Polar bears arc occasional visitors, coming from the ice which takes ground on the north and east coasts during winter. As soon as they ap pear, they are pursued and destroyed. The skins or the foxes, particularly those of the Canis fuliginosus, or blue fox, is a valuable article of commerce. The rein-deer are wild, and arc derived from stock of three, which were all that survived of some that were sent from Norway in 1770. Instead of being serviceable, they often destroy the grass which is preserved for hay.
Several species of seals frequent the shores in conside rable numbers ; but they are not much sought after.
Whales are seldom seen on the coasts of Iceland ; but that variety of dclphinus, which we mentioned in the ar ticle FAROE, named in Orkney the calling whale, appears frequently in large shoals. The shark is common on the coasts, and is taken by large hooks fastened to an anchor by chains and strong lines. Of the skins shoes are made ; and they are valuable to the inhabitants of some districts for the oil which they afford, and also for their flesh.
The cinereous eagle, or ern, is very common. The Ice land falcon, formerly so much prized, is now seldom seen, though it has not for many years been molested.