COMMONLY IN PAIRS. 329 



called Elf-Gryta* that one so frequently meets with in 

 the more hilly parts of Western Scandinavia. Figure 1 is 

 a section of a line of " Grytor " near to Surtur, a village 

 eight or nine (English) miles to the north of Gothenburg ; 

 and figure 2 represents a bird's-eye view of the same. 



The " Elf-Gryta " is a circular hole in the granite or 

 gneiss rock, the sides of which are so smooth that one 

 might suppose it had been turned with a lathe. Its shape 

 varies from a spherical to a sharp ellipse ; but the most 

 common form is that of an egg with one end, say a third, 

 lopped off; generally, the sharp end of the egg is down- 

 wards, but in some instances the thicker end. The size of 

 the " Gryta " varies greatly, some being mere cavities in 

 the face of the rock, whilst others, again, are of almost 

 gigantic proportions. One near to Surtur is not less than 

 35 feet in depth, and 12 feet in diameter at its mouth, 

 and it is probable there are others still larger. But 

 from 5 to 6 feet in depth, by 2 to 3 in diameter, may be 

 looked on as the average size. 



The " Grytor " are commonly found in pairs. In this 

 case the one to the north-east is invariably the most regu- 

 larly formed, and the deepest ; the other, or that to the 

 south-west, shallower, and scooped out, often with a 

 gutter running from it in the latter direction. When thus 

 in pairs, the distance between the " Grytor " is generally 

 from 10 to 12 inches. Sometimes the partition-wall is 

 so eaten away that there is an opening between them, 

 either above, or it may be about halfway down, in the 

 shape of an oval aperture worn by the eddying waters. 

 Two " Grytor " can never be found exactly alike, their 

 shape altogether depending on the locality and the con- 

 figuration of the surrounding rocks. Occasionally, the 



* These go liy various names in Sweden: A7/-6V/y//-, or Elves' cul- 

 (lioiis ; J(Ut-Grytor, or Uumts' ealdnms, &e. 



