History of the Sarsens. 



of the local sand-banks and beach-lines." T. Rupert Jones, Proceed. 

 Geologists' Assoc., vol, vi., 1880, p. 441. 



These erosive processes have brought to view, from out of the 

 once uniform surface of the block, more or less indications of the 

 concretionary structure in many instances. Sometimes large 

 mammillary or lumpy curves of the harder concreted portions, 

 sometimes small kernel-like structures, are visible. The same cause 

 has made manifest on the outside edges of some blocks a laminated 

 structure, due to the successive deposition of limited supplies of 

 slightly-varying sands in the Tertiary sea ; but almost lost to sight 

 in a freshly-fractured surface of the stone in the apparent homo- 

 geneity of the mass. Mr. W, Cunnington, F.G.S., has a collection 

 of such varieties of Sarsen ; and in the valuable and extensive 

 collection of Sarsens, accumulated and set out to view, with all their 

 features preserved, by Prof. H. Nevil Story Maskelyne, F.R.S., in 

 his garden-grounds at Basset-Down House, these peculiarities can 

 be readily and fully studied. 



A fine mammillated specimen at Mildenhall, Marlborough, has 

 been noticed by the Rev. C. Soames. 1 



The well-known "Blowing Stone/' at Kingston-Lisle, at the 

 foot of Uffington Downs, is a large weather-worn reddish-brown 

 Sarsen. By the wayside inn it stands on edge, about 3ft. high, 

 3ift. broad (long), and 2ft. thick. It is traversed by several holes ; 

 seven appear in front; three on the top; and there are others 

 behind. At the north end there is also an irregular hollow. The 

 opening through which it is blown is at the top and about fin. wide. 

 The sound issues from one side near the top. See the Transact. 

 Newbury District Field Club, vol. i., 1871, p. 148; and Murray's 

 " Handbook for Berks," &c, p. 40. 



The " King's Stone " or " Coronation Stone," at Kingston-on- 

 Thames, is a Sarsen, of a light brown colour, irregularly square, as 

 mounted on (and partly in) its pedestal, and about 2ft. lOin. high, 

 by about 2ft. square in section. It has a nearly flat, but somewhat 



1 The white Lower Greensand of Stone and Hartwell, near Aylesbury, contains 

 numerous large, sub-globular, boldly mammillated concretions, known as " Bowel- 

 stones " in the neighbourhood. These are analogous as to structure. 



