VOL. XIV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 25 



justly determined; some that have clearly lost the colour of wood, and are 

 become perfectly black, and very hard; others that are not so black nor hard; 

 but one more especially was sent me about a year ago, which is a parallelepiped 

 of about 4 inches long and an inch thick, cut I suppose whilst wood into that 

 shape purposely, whose outward coat is very black and smooth, but this is merely 

 superficial, for being cleft lengthwise through the middle, I there discovered 

 the whole body perfectly of the colour and grain of holly, as I can scrape it 

 with my nail; but what was most surprising in it, was the discovery of the 

 pith, as plainly and as perfectly distinct in colour and texture from the rest 

 (but it also was petrified) as it could possibly have been seen in the natural 

 wood. 



It is observed, that this petrifying quality is not equally diffused throughout 

 the whole Lough, which is about 15 or ]6 miles long, and 8 or 9 miles broad 

 in all places; but is most strong about that part where the black water, (a river 

 so called) empties itself into this Lough, that is, about the south-west corner ; 

 as likewise it is said to be stronger about the edges of the Lough, than further 

 into the water. 



It was queried a while ago by an ingenious and learned man of the Royal 

 Society, Mr. Halley, whether Lough Neagh stone were not magnetical, for he 

 was told it was; but upon trial I find it is not; for it will not stir a needle, or 

 steel filings, neither will it apply to the magnet, in powder or calcined.* 



On a Strange Well, and some Antiquities found at Kirhhythore, in Westmore- 

 land. By Mr. Thomas Machel. N° 158, p. 555. 



A well was lately discovered in the street of Kirkbythore, by the Bridge-end, j 



on the north-side of the river Trout-Beck, and is about 10 yards distant from 

 it, in the common road, and the same distance from the great Roman causey, 

 which leads to Carlisle. It was covered over with a plank of wood, about 9 

 inches thick ; but decayed and macerated to the colour and consistence of a 

 peat or turf; above this was gravel and pavement about a yard thick, which 

 being relaxed by the late thaw and swelling of the spring, easily gave way to 

 a horse's foot. 



Instead of walls there were two large wooden vessels, one on another, like 



* In a letter dated Nov. 1684, and inserted in No. 166 in this Vol. Mr. Molyneux retracts his 

 Assertion, that the Lough Neagh stone is not attracted by the magnet, either in its crude state or 

 when calcined. " That it will not do so crude, (to quote his own words) I still affirm} but tliat it 

 does not apply ca/twfrf, I must retract; for I find by further trial, that it applies calcined mosty 

 briskly, and in great quantities, to the magnet : the occasion of my former error being, that I did 

 not calcine it long enough." 



VOL. III. E 



