68 
when cut and polished forms beautiful ornaments. Bognor was the 
first place at which they were brought into notice, and I had them cut 
more than thirty years ago: m Plate XIII. are figured specimens in 
my own collection, found at or near Worthing. The expectation of 
finding a good stone on the beach affords some amusement to the 
visitors of watering-places ; some specimens look remarkably well, 
polished all over; in others, during the decomposition of the sponge, 
more or less oxide of iron was generated, giving to the calcedony a 
beautiful yellow or orange tint and black mossy character. The stones 
mostly prized by lapidaries are those which assume the appearance of 
landscapes. I have seen some very beautiful ones of this description, 
which might vie with the better-known and far-famed Mochas of the 
East. This trade has within the last six years very much increased ; 
and many persons are now employed in the cutting and polishing these 
stones into brooches, buckles, earrings, &c. They are also brought 
in great numbers from the opposite coast of France. 
Very beautiful calcedonies are found im chalk-pits, and at the top of 
the Downs; these cut and polish like the specimens on the shore. 
There are in my collection varieties which mineralogists have denomi- 
nated ‘ botryoidal,’ from a resemblance to grapes ; ‘reniform,’ from a 
kidney-shaped appearance ; ‘ stalactitic,’ from a dropping or columnar 
character. The form and colour of these calcedonic flmts are much 
varied ; some are white, others pink and blue, of various shades, and 
often covered with a most delicate bloom. The flints i Houghton 
chalk-pit are sometimes coated with a light blue-coloured calcedony, 
which looks very like paint ; these specimens lose their colour when 
placed in water, the colour returning again when dry. Collectors 
should examine the flints that are thrown out of chalk-pits, as often 
good specimens of shells, &c. may be found adhering to them; and 
they are not unfrequently found encrusted with Polythalamia in an 
unusually perfect condition: Choanites and Ventriculites also occur 
