286 Formation of Crystals in Geodes, 
on asolid mass of agate* which crossed the creek, and 
formed a natural basis for this superstructure. In clearing 
the passage for the water, below this dam, the workmen 
discovered a great number of hollow balls, in their form, 
resembling bomb-shells. Some of them were as large as 
a man’s head, and some even eight or nine inches in di- 
ameter. They had a dark rusty appearance, the crust 
looked like an iron ore, outside of a snuff colour, 
inside of a light brown. When broken they proved 
to be mere shells, the walls of which were from five 
eights to three fourths of an inch in diameter, and 
the capacity of the cavity was from a pint to two quarts 
or more. This cavity was filled with a milky fluid, 
so perfectly resembling white paint, or whitewash, that it 
was used to whiten the fire places and the walls of the 
rooms of the neighbouring houses. Unfortunately no ex- 
periments were made to ascertain the nature of the fluid, 
or of the white matter suspended in it, and it is to be fear- 
ed that the opportunity is now lost—with the hope how- 
ever, of exciting enquiry we add, that, at the time, Mr. W. 
B. Wilkinson lived on the spot, and could give all neces- 
sary information, which we beg leave to solicit from the 
friends of science in that part of the country, and also 
specimens of the shells (and should any more be discover- 
ed) of the fluid. 
The region around is a sandy pine-barren, destitute of 
stones of any description, on the surface—but, for a mile 
around the place where the balls were discovered, were, 
scattered numerous arrow-heads, and fragments of agate, 
from which the arrow heads were chipped, by the abori- 
inal Indians. 
The other fact, alluded to above, we cite from count 
Bournon’s Mineralogy, Vol. 2. p. 33. 
Count Bournon informs us, that in the vicinity of Lyons, 
in France, there is a calcareous rock, which contains here 
and there geodes often very large, having for their envel- 
ope silex mixed with lime—often alternating in concentric 
layers. In the midst of these geodes, beautiful crystals of 
carbonate of lime occur, mixed with those of quartz, which 
* The people there called it agate—it was at least a silicious stone, and 
agates of great beauty are found in and near it. Specimens from this 
place given us by Mr. Whitney, consist of a mixtare ef jasper, horastone, 
quartz and chalcedony. 
