DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0094
t 76 ]
Natural Curiosities of the Island of Sicily.;
J^l.T Centorbi they have a kind of soft stone that dis-
solves in water, and is used in washing instead of soap,
from whence it is called, Pictra SaponarO. Here, as well
as in Calabria, is found the celebrated stone, which beinh
watered and exposed to a pretty warm degree of heat;
produces a plentiful crop of mushrooms. Soda, also/
which is lately come into so much repute in England/
was first cultivated in the island of Sicily; the Pistachio
nut, and the Cantharides fly, are likewise natives of
that island.
In several places they have fountains that throw up a
kind of oil on their surface, which is used in lamps', &c.
The Fonte Canoeletto, is covered with a scum like pitch,
which the country people esteem good for rheumatisms;
and the water 6f a small lake near Naso, is celebrated
for dying every thing black that is put into it, though it
appears remarkably pure and transparent.
Singular Animal Flower, found 1/64.
T^he inhabitants of SaintLucia have discovered an ani-
mal flower. In a cavern of that isle, near the sea, is a
large bason, from twelve to fifteen feet deep, the water pf
which is very brackish, and the bottom composed of
rocks, from whence at all times proceed certain sub-'
stances, which present at first sight beautiful flowers, of a
bright shining colour, and pretty nearly resembling Ouf
marigolds; ’ ordy that their tint is more lively. These
seeming flowers, on the approach of a hand or instrument,
retire, like a snail, out of sight. On examining this sub-
stance closely, there appears in the middle of the disk
four brown filaments, resembling spiders legs, which move
round a kind of yellow petals, with a pretty brisk and
, ' sponta-
Natural Curiosities of the Island of Sicily.;
J^l.T Centorbi they have a kind of soft stone that dis-
solves in water, and is used in washing instead of soap,
from whence it is called, Pictra SaponarO. Here, as well
as in Calabria, is found the celebrated stone, which beinh
watered and exposed to a pretty warm degree of heat;
produces a plentiful crop of mushrooms. Soda, also/
which is lately come into so much repute in England/
was first cultivated in the island of Sicily; the Pistachio
nut, and the Cantharides fly, are likewise natives of
that island.
In several places they have fountains that throw up a
kind of oil on their surface, which is used in lamps', &c.
The Fonte Canoeletto, is covered with a scum like pitch,
which the country people esteem good for rheumatisms;
and the water 6f a small lake near Naso, is celebrated
for dying every thing black that is put into it, though it
appears remarkably pure and transparent.
Singular Animal Flower, found 1/64.
T^he inhabitants of SaintLucia have discovered an ani-
mal flower. In a cavern of that isle, near the sea, is a
large bason, from twelve to fifteen feet deep, the water pf
which is very brackish, and the bottom composed of
rocks, from whence at all times proceed certain sub-'
stances, which present at first sight beautiful flowers, of a
bright shining colour, and pretty nearly resembling Ouf
marigolds; ’ ordy that their tint is more lively. These
seeming flowers, on the approach of a hand or instrument,
retire, like a snail, out of sight. On examining this sub-
stance closely, there appears in the middle of the disk
four brown filaments, resembling spiders legs, which move
round a kind of yellow petals, with a pretty brisk and
, ' sponta-