182 MISCELLANEA. 



is within five or six miles of Brought and about the same dis- 

 tance from Middle ton. It lies near to the base of Mickle Fell, 

 which was ascended by some of the party. "While waiting their 

 return, one or two of the members walked iDack towards Mid- 

 dleton and examined the stone which had been noticed on the 

 outward journey. It was found to be about forty or fifty yards 

 from the road, resting on the surface of the field, and not im- 

 bedded in the soil as boulders and other detached blocks are 

 usually found. It was also found to consist of Sandstone, and 

 standing on a bare '' scalp" of Limestone, resting on a point, so 

 to speak, the upper part of the block overhanging the base on 

 all sides. The surface of the limestone beneath being bare and 

 free from grass, the winds no doubt keeping down any accumu- 

 lation of soil which might be otherwise disposed to gather upon 

 it. The locality of the stone may be about three miles from 

 Middleton. 



In size the block is about ten feet on the sides, and the same 

 in height. The sides and lower part have marks of a scratching 

 or grinding process having been undergone. These marks differ 

 entirely from those of lamination or stratification which might 

 be expected in a block of sandstone. 



The question which arises is : How this block of sandstone 

 comes to be where it is ? It is entirely unconnected with any 

 surrounding rock except what it rests on. It is quite out of the 

 question to suppose it has been placed there by human agency. 

 There might be an idea that this particular block forms part of 

 a stratum of sandstone which originally was deposited on the 

 limestone, but afterwards removed by denudation. If so this 

 involves the idea of a very large and extensive area having dis- 

 appeared, leaving no vestige but this comparatively small block. 

 This opinion consequently appears untenable. The conclusion 

 is that the block has been transported hither from some other 

 locality, and that this occurred in that long past epoch of geolo- 

 gical history called the ''glacial period" or great "Ice- Age," 

 which is supposed to have existed about 10,500 years ago.*" 



The composition of the rock is that of the ordinary sandstone 



* See " The Great Ice-Age," by J. Geikie, F.G.S., pp. 121—130, etc. 



