128 ISLAND OF ANTIPAROS. 
CHAP, stalactites which are found at Castleton in Derby - 
. - v l > shire; and there the operation has been carried 
on in water, a globule of which has remained 
constantly suspended at the point of each sta- 
clatite: but in this grotto, crystallization has 
been the result of a modification sustained 
by the whole interior of a mass of alabaster, 
subsequently to its original deposition. That 
the cavern has neither been filled with water, 
nor with any other fluid than atmospheric air, 
is very evident, by the formation of the stalac- 
tites, which could not otherwise have existed as 
they now appear. Every thing belonging to 
them, and to this cavern, will tend to perplex 
and to confound the naturalist; and many proofs 
of this are yet to follow. In the different 
cavities, and between the interstices of the 
stalactites, we had the satisfaction to discover, 
Crystaiif. what no one had hitherto noticed, THE CRYS- 
zation of j ,- 
Alabaster. TALLIZATIOX OF ALABASTER, in distinct grOUpS 
of large rhomboidal primary crystals, upon the 
exterior surface of the several concretions: and 
that these crystals were gradually accumulating 
in size, until they met together and constituted 
one entire mass, was evident, because, upon 
a diligent examination of all parts of the grotto, 
we found, that where the stalactites were small, 
and in an incipient state, the crystals upon 
