Mineralogy and Geology of Nova Scotia. 271 
cleave. Some of them have gone through a spontaneous change, 
and separated into a powder, similar to that resulting from the 
disintegration of laumonite. But we should not omit to mention 
in this place, that the substance for which this island more than 
any other spot in the country has been celebrated, and in search 
of which it is visited by almost every traveller, is amethyst, in 
crystals of great beauty and brilliancy. ‘They seem first to have 
drawn the attention of De Monts, one of the earliest French emi- 
grants to this country, during the reign of Henry IV. It is said 
he was so struck with their appearance, that he took several 
specimens with him to Paris, where he had them appropriately 
set as jewels, and presented them to the King and Queen as 
tokens of his loyal attachment. They often form geodes in the 
amygdaloid, and are externally encrusted with chalcedony and 
cacholong that alternate with each other. 
Pursuing the northern shore of the Basin of Mines east- 
wardly, the next place deserving of notice is the vicinity of the 
Two Islands, about six miles from Partridge Island. The inter- 
mediate coast, being composed of rocks of a different character 
from those which it is our object at present to describe, we shall 
leaye, to notice it more particularly when we treat of that forma- 
tion. 
The Two Islands consist of amygdaloid and columnar trap 
rising on all sides abruptly from the sea; but, being accessible 
only at low water, they will not afford the visitor many interesting 
specimens. On the main land near Swan’s Creek and opposite 
to these islands, he will be favored with a locality of uncommon 
interest. At this place we have also another example of the 
conversion of shale, red sandstone, and compact trap, first 
into a coarse breccia, consisting of loosely united masses of these 
