113 
Dr Daubeny on the Geology of Sicily. 
black mould had been dug from it to render the access more 
easy. It would be interesting to ascertain whether this limestone 
be continuous with that of the mountains near Taormina to 
which it seems to be parallel. 
Between Guisa and Cape Orlando, we may observe a repeti- 
tion of the same slate formation as before, which is here of very 
limited extent, speedily giving place to a red sandstone, not mi- 
caceous like the former, and containing red ironshot grains of 
sand, instead of angular fragments of quartz. This red sand- 
stone continues all along the coast to Cefalu, uninterrupted, ex- 
cept by a bed or two of compact greyish limestone, used as a 
marble, and without petrifactions. 
This sandstone sometimes alternates with thin beds of shale, 
like that belonging to the coal formation. 
The promontory of Cefalu consists of an isolated rock, which 
announces at a distance, by its bold and abrupt figure, that it is 
constituted of different materials from those of the preceding 
country. It consists, in fact, of a bluish fetid limestone, which, 
as I am informed, is termed by lapidaries a Lumachella marble, 
being hard enough to receive a polish, and having portions of 
sparry crystalline matter distributed over it, which appear to be 
derived from the presence of organic bodies, although these are 
rarely distinct, except on the weathered surface of the stone. I 
found them best exhibited among the remains of the Cyclopean 
Temple, on the hill of Cefalu, the stones of which indicate, by 
their gigantic size, the extreme antiquity of the fabric. 
On the weathered surfaces acted upon during so many ages, 
the petrifactions, as being the hardest portions, stand out in re- 
lief, but having been unable to detach any of them, it is impos- 
sible for me at present to attempt enumerating their species. 
I do not know whether any stratification can be discovered in 
the rock of Cefalu ; there is indeed a kind of separation into 
three distinct masses, but these look rather like the result of 
cleavage, which may take place in every rock, even down to gra- 
nite, than the effect of a deposition at distinct periods. 
Indeed, the rock itself seems to split irregularly in a direction 
just opposite to that of the nearly horizontal seams above noti- 
ced. 
VOL. XIII. NO. 25. JULY 1825. 
H 
