9B Hev. Dr Fleming's Gleanings of Natural History . 
in honour of the proprietor, Macalisteis Cave. It occupies a 
fissure in the sandstone, which had formerly been filled with 
basalt. This original condition may be readily inferred from 
the appearances which present themselves in the floor, at the en- 
trance, and near low water-mark, where a portion of the sand- 
stone yet appears enclosed by the trap, and where the walls of 
the vein are entire. The interior of the cave exhibits, in great 
beauty, the various forms which the calcareous stalactites and 
stalagmites assume, and displays the carbonate of lime, in all the 
stages of its crystallization. 
On the morning of the 21st, we were abreast of the Island of 
Egg ; and, shortly after, landed at the well known cave in which 
the Macdonalds of this isle, who had taken shelter in its recesses, 
were suftbcated with smoke, by their enemies the Macleods, in 
the days of clanship, ignorance, ferocity, and revenge. On the 
beach, a few examples of the Lepas fascicularis of Ellis were 
observed, attached to* the remains of the spawn from which they 
had sprung. This substance still adhered to the quill-feathers 
of gulls, which appeared to be but little altered by maceration. 
Subsequently, I have found the young of the Balanus balanoides 
upwards of a tenth of an inch in diameter at the base, and seated 
on the eggs of the Bitcciniim undatum. These facts lead to the 
conclusion, that rapidity of growth is a distinguishing feature 
both of the pedunculated and the sessile cirrhipedes. 
The rocks in the neighbourhood of the cave, consist of various 
beds of amygdaloid and greenstone, containing, in their cavities,, 
radiated and capillary Mesotype, and transparent crystals of Cu~ 
hizite. One of the beds of greenstone appeared of a singular 
character, in having a basis of glassy felspar, and containing, 
along with the hornblende, numerous dispersed grains of magne- 
tic iron-ore. The two remarkable Bitclistone veins in the neigh- 
bourhood, were likewise hastily inspected. The pitchstone in 
these veins is highly bituminous. 
The Sciur of Egg, which we now ascended, is a very re- 
markable hill, on account of the steepness of its sides, and the 
thick bed of columnar pitchstone-porphyry which forms its sum- 
mit. The basis of this porphyry is considered as intermediate’ 
between pitchstone and basalt. In one plape, it seemed to pass 
into heliotrope. It contains crystals of glassy felspar ; and occa* 
