570 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
It is obviouSj from the inspection of the specimens on the table, 
that the Fairy Stones are formed by the dropping of water con- 
taining the matter of which they are composed. This is clearly 
shown in two of the specimens on the table, where the fluid matter 
has been deposited upon fragments of whinstone, though in one of 
these specimens (fig. 7) the deposits at AA are so deeply imbedded 
as to have the appearance of contemporaneous formations. 
When the stones have a symmetrical structure on the under as 
Avell as on the upper side (as in fig. 8), it is difficult to understand 
Fig. 7. Fig. 8. 
the mode of their formation, unless we suppose that the deposit 
has been made upon a soft stratum of clay or sand, or any other 
material with which the deposited matter will not combine, and 
from which it may be easily separated. 
This difficulty is increased when the specimen has the form of a 
ring, as in fig. 9. 
Fig. 9. 
According to a rough analysis, which Dr Dalzell has been so 
good as to make for me ; the specific gravity of the Fairy Stones 
is 2-65, and their odour, when breathed upon, argillaceous. They 
