423 
of Edinburgh, Session 1864-65. 
them to march fourteen miles daily, with 60 lbs. weight of accoutre- 
ments, without living upon their own tissues to obtain the necessary 
force. 
2. Notice of a large Calcareous Stalagmite brought from the 
Island of Bermuda in the year 1819, and now in the 
College of Edinburgh. By David Milne Home, Esq., of 
Wedderburn. 
The author stated that this stalagmite was a calcareous deposit of a 
columnar shape, which had been brought to Edinburgh, about forty- 
six years ago, by his father, the late Admiral Sir David Milne. 
Whilst commander-in-chief on the North American and West 
Indian Station during the three years ending 1819, Sir David had 
passed a part of every winter in the genial climate of Bermuda. 
He took much interest in the various objects of natural history 
abounding in the island, and particularly in its remarkable caves. 
Possessing some knowledge of geology, and being a personal 
friend of the late Professor Jameson of the University of Edin- 
burgh, who was then collecting specimens from all quarters for a 
Museum, Sir David resolved, on the expiry of his command, to 
bring home with him, besides madrepores and other marine pro- 
ductions, some of the beautiful calcareous deposits from the caves, 
and present them to the Museum. 
These calcareous deposits consist — 1st, Of crusts of crystallised 
matter coating the floor, sides, and roof of the caves ; 2d, Of icicle- 
shaped formations attached to and pendant from the roof ; Sd, Of 
columnar-looking deposits resting on the floor, with broad rounded 
tops. 
These various deposits are formed in the usual way, by water 
highly charged with lime ; — the lime being held in solution by 
carbonic acid gas contained in the water, and on the escape of that 
gas, as the water evaporates, the lime is precipitated. 
All the requisites for these deposits abound in Bermuda. The 
rocks of the island (of which a specimen was exhibited) are entirely 
calcareous, being composed of comminuted fragments of sea-shells 
and zoophytes. The amount of rain which falls annually on the 
island, and which percolates through the rocks, is very consider- 
