nova scotia geology — honeyman. 329 



Rocking Stone. 

 Roche Perche. 

 The Rocking Stone of Spryfield has long been regarded as an 

 object of interest ; it is situate about 11 miles north of Pennant 

 Head, and 5 miles west of Sandwich Point, which lies between 

 York Redoubt and Herring Cove. I had long heard of it, but 

 had not seen it until the last Saturday of last October. I was 

 astonished at its imposing appearance. Having reached its top 

 by a ladder, which is placed against it for the convenience of 

 visitors, I enjoyed a .strange rock in this wonderful cradle. My 

 conductor and companion, Simon D. Macdonald, F. G. s., seeing me 

 seated on the top, went to the end of a lever, also placed in posi- 

 tion, and commenced operations. The mass began to move, the 

 motion increased and the rocking commenced, and was continued 

 until I was satisfied. Mr. Murphy, c. E., Provincial Engineer, 

 informed me that he had measured the boulder and calculated its 

 weight, which is about 200 tons. It must be wonderfully set 

 and balanced. It is placed in the forest, a beautiful little lake 

 is on its west side. The sun setting in the west, the scene was 

 beautiful and romantic. The boulder has a venerable look. It 

 is coated with lichens, so that its lithological character is not at 

 all apparent. This has led to the belief that it is not like the 

 rocks around. My hammer soon satisfied me regarding its true 

 character. It is a mass of coarse, pnrphyritic granite. Its con- 

 stituent minerals are glassy-brown quartz, black mica and beau- 

 tiful white orthoclase. The rock upon which it is poised is of 

 the same character, and so are the other granite boulders in the 

 locality. It may have travelled 9 or 10 miles, or it may not be 

 far removed from its original position. As we walked to and 

 from, I made observations on our way which I shall briefly 

 describe : 



Halifax to Dutch Village. 



Our starting point is North Street, opposite Railway Station 

 and H. M. Dockyard. Along North Street we proceeded west- 

 ward. Beyond Agricola Street crossing is an outcrop of argil- 

 lites, beautifully glaciated, The course of this striation is S. 20 



