CALCAREOUS SPRINGS. 211 



mineral matter, every part of its structure having undergone some 

 change, so that if we break and polish such a specimen, every 

 part of its structure, converted perhaps into flint, may be detected; 

 even the minute ramifications and delicate tissues of many kinds 

 of wood, and most delicate parts of the internal structure of bones. 

 By the infiltration of water through limestone rocks, the sparry 

 concretions are made which depend in caves, like icicles, 

 they ar called stalactites, from a Greek word meaning to drop, 

 and also under them, from the drippings, are stalagmites, or drops, 

 and when, as frequently happens, the two unite, a singularly pic- 

 turesque effect is produced, the caves appearing as if supported 

 by pillars of extraordinary beauty and variety. Sometimes a 

 jinear fissure in the roof, causes the formation of a translucent 

 curtain or partition. This is the case in 'Weyer's cave, in the 

 limestone range of the Blue Mountains, a narrow and rugged 

 fissure leads 'to a large cavern where the most grotesque figures 

 present themselves, formed by the infiltration of water through 

 the limestone. Passing from these the passage conducts to a 

 flight of steps that leads into a large cavern of irregular form and 

 great beauty, about thirty by forty feet in dimensions. Here the 

 incrustations hang like a sheet of water that has been frozen as it 

 fell. Farther on is another vaulted chamber, one hundred feet 

 long, thirty -six wide, and twenty-six high ; still farther is anolh- 

 range of apartments, at the extremity of which, is a hall two hun- 

 dred and fifty feet long, having a splendid sheet of rock work 

 running up the centre. The whole length of this extraordinary 

 group of caverns is not less than one thousand six hundred 

 feet. 



The most celebrated grotto in Europe, is in the island of Anti- 

 paros, it consists of a series of caves, the roof, the floor, and the 

 sides of which, are entirely covered with a dazzling incrustation. 

 Immense columns of alabaster extend from the roof to the floor, 

 and others hang in fine cubic forms above the head; the crystali- 

 zation of alabaster has nowhere else been observed. 



Although the phenomena produced by incrusting springs, are 

 perhaps not of much importance in modifying or changing the 

 surface of the earth, yet the changes effected by this process, in 



