CHAPTER OF VARIETIES. 183 



join them without molestation from either ; indeed the kitten was in- 

 variably deprived of a comfortable meal by her dam's hospitality, as 

 the little thing was so frightened as to scamper off the moment the 

 intruder made his appearance. I cannot imagine the cause of such 

 change of habit, and it appears the more strange as I have reason to 

 think that, from the servant's peculiar dislike to cats, they were not 

 too well supplied with food. What could have led the rat to suppose 

 his presence would have been tolerated in such dangerous company ? 

 Perchance the worthy company of rats, in imitation of the mice in the 

 fable, had held a council of war, and come to some dreadful resolution, 

 which this favourite was elected to execute. He has discontinued his 

 visits some time ; he has perhaps accomplished his object, or he may 

 have been once too often VERITAS, March 6, 1833. 



THE DANCING WITCHES' ROCK, JERSEY. During a short stay in 

 the Island of Jersey, I frequently heard of the rock upon which the 

 witches danced previous to a storm at sea: and being disposed to visit 

 the salle a danser of the "weird sisters," I started from St. Helier, 

 the principal town of the island, d, pied, accompanied by Captain St. 

 Jewin, and after walking over a fertile country, descried the huge mass 

 of stone, which the islanders denominate the Dancing Witches' Rock. 



This block of granite rests nearly on the centre of 'a meadow, about 

 an hundred yards from the sea shore, is of irregular form, of about 

 twenty yards in diameter, twenty feet high, and presents on its sum- 

 mit a flat surface, occupying about three square yards ; this surface is 

 marked with numerous impressions, resembling the feet of sheep or 

 goats, and is also impressed with a representation of the skeleton of 

 an animal similar in shape to a crocodile. The tracing of ribs, verte- 

 brae, and in fact the osseous system of some animal, appear carved on 

 the rock. From what cause these fanciful appearances proceed I am 

 unable to state, neither, as far as I have means of ascertaining, does 

 the history of the island furnish a clue to their origin. 



There are remains of ancient temples of the Druids in the island, 

 and it is possible that the mass of stone had been employed by them 

 for the celebration of their mysteries. We are informed by Herodotus, 

 that the people who lived in the neighbourhood of Thebes and the Lake 

 Maeris, suspended gold ornaments from the ears of the crocodile, the 

 fore feet being secured by a chain ; they fed it with the flesh of the 

 sacred victims, and it was treated with great attention ; and when it 

 died it was embalmed, and afterwards deposited in a consecrated chest. 



