481 
of Edinburgh, Session 1870 - 71 . 
authorities had given orders to the inspectors of roads and bridges 
to aid in the investigation. 
In the canton of Zurich , notice is taken of one remarkable block, 
known as the “ Stone for the sacrifices of Hegsruti” which had 
been purchased by the Society of Antiquaries, and had been 
brought into the town of Zurich. 
In the canton of Soleure , blocks of enormous size, and to the 
number of 228, had been marked, and appointed by the municipal 
authorities to be preserved, these blocks being situated on lands 
belonging to the canton. The celebrated block of Steinhof, weigh¬ 
ing about 1400 tons, had been purchased b}^ means of a special 
subscription, and made over in property to the Helvetic Society. 
Several landed proprietors are named as having gifted particular 
boulder stones to the societies. Thus Mr Briganti, at Montliey, 
had gifted to the Helvetic Society one block out of a remarkable 
group, of which I well remember the late Principal Forbes once 
spoke in this Society, and which I had lately an opportunity of 
visiting. So also Mr Bonneton of Geneva had presented to the 
Alpine Club of that town a piece of land, containing what is 
described as a magnificent boulder, and known by the name of the 
“ Stone of Beauregard.” 
Even the Federal Government of Switzerland had condescended 
to share in what really seems to amount almost to a national 
movement; for reference is made to an official communication from 
the Chancellor, stating that the Council of State had caused an 
order to be issued, that all erratic blocks situated in the cantonal 
forests should be preserved intact, till examined by the committee. 
I have had sent to me a printed report of the steps taken in the 
canton of Aargau , drawn out by Professor Miihlberg. He men¬ 
tions that one of the measures taken there, was the appointment 
of a referee to inspect the boulders which were discovered, with 
the view of determining whether they were worthy of being pre¬ 
served. Professor Miihlberg mentions farther, that “the State 
“ undertakes the expense of printing and postages, as well as of 
“ the travelling of the canton referee to the sites of the most 
“ important boulders, and had in the meantime advanced 100 francs 
“ to defray expenses already incurred.” 
These extracts from the reports, of which printed copies have 
