D. M. Home — On the Preservation of Boulders. 177 



worth noting and describing, and may furnish a far more instructive 

 account of its travels, than an enormous monolite whose only merit 

 is size. In cases of this kind the observers should be allowed to 

 use their own discretion, and should record not only what is huge, 

 but what is of value ; and no doubt many of them will do so, not- 

 withstanding the recommendation of the Committee to the contrary. 



With regard to the preservation which will, we presume, follow 

 this census of the Boulders, the subject connects itself naturally with 

 the preservation of all our out-door objects of scientific and historical 

 interest, and more especially with that of the so-called Druidic 

 monuments, and of the numerous inscriptions and sculptures on 

 natural rock-faces which are yearly disappearing from Britain under 

 the brutal treatment of toiirist roughs. That such a general curator- 

 ship of the monumental curiosities of the country is not unthought 

 of, we have an earnest of in the purchase of Avebury by Sir John 

 Lubbock. G. A. L. 



March 12, 1872. 



*^j* In connexion with the foregoing we append the following 

 Note, which may prove of interest to those who are engaged in 

 collecting information respecting Erratics. — Edit. Geol. Mag. 



11. — Note on a Boulder neae Old Cleeve, West Somerset. 

 By S. G. Perceval, F.G.S. 



IT may be worth mentioning in your Magazine, that a large shrub- 

 grown Boulder, seven or eight feet in height and several feet in 

 circumference, formerly stood at the base of the hill, in a field to 

 the west, immediately below New Barn, about a mile north of Old 

 Cleeve Church. The rock composing it was felspathic or siliceous, 

 exceedingly hard and compact, with angular fracture, of a dull 

 yellowish colour, in parts mottled and striated of a greenish-black 

 colour. Spherical concretions — of the same mineral character — 

 with a concentric structure, some attaining the size of a cannon-ball, 

 occurred in portions of the mass. There was no trace of organic 

 remains, except some markings which might indicate the presence 

 of organisms of a low type. According to Professor Eamsay, to 

 whom I sent some specimens a few years ago — which are, perhaj)S, 

 still at Jermyn Street — a rock of a similar description occurs in 

 Carnarvonshire. From its position at the base of the hill, it might 

 be supposed that the boulder had been deposited there at a time 

 when the sea extended thus far. The coast at Blue Anchor is at 

 present more than a mile distant. The occurrence of such a boulder 

 in the neighbourhood was a circumstance quite unique. It was 

 probably perfectly distinct from any formation in the West of 

 England, and I have never seen a specimen of this kind, possessing 

 so miich interest, or whose origin was more unaccountable. 



A smaller fragment of the same rock existed in a lane to the north 

 of Old Cleeve Church, less than a mile distant from the principal 

 boulder, and at about the same altitude. 



VOL. IX.— NO, xciv. 12 



