18 
NATURE STUDY. 
the left side a narrow crevice, just wide enough in places for a 
man to squeeze through, extends towards the middle of the hill 
for a distance of sixty-nine feet. About half way in one can 
climb up the perpendicular side at the right and come out at 
the end of the hole a little way up the hill eighty-one feet from 
the entrance. The name, Devil’s Den, which has clung to 
the hole for generations, attests the orthodoxy of the early 
inhabitants. 
The place is of more interest mineralogically than theologi 
cally because of a small deposit of stalactitic limonite that 
coats the walls and roof, except where it has been knocked off 
by visitors. The inside of the cave is always wet with water 
that trickles down through the porous rock and brings with it 
small quantities of the iron that is diffused through the hill. 
As the water evaporates a coating of iron is left which has in 
some places where it has been undisturbed acquired a thick¬ 
ness of four inches. Much of it is quite porous. Some speci¬ 
mens show plainly the layers that indicate the formation by aid 
of water, each layer perhaps showing the result of a season’s 
evaporation. On the upright walls ridges of the deposit resem¬ 
ble ripple marks, while from the roof hang small projections, an 
inch or two in length, that show the stalactitic form of accumu¬ 
lation. The amount of the deposit is small and is of interest 
only to mineralogists, but to such it is well worth a visit. 
Devadatta’s Shooting. 
From Arnold’s “ Light of Asia.” 
But it befell 
In the Royal garden on a day of spring, 
A flock of wild swans passed, voyaging north 
To their nest places on Himala’s breast. 
Calling in love notes down their snowy line 
The bright birds flew, by fond love piloted; 
And Devadatta, cousin of the Prince, 
Pointed his bow, and loosed a willful shaft 
Which found the wide wing of the foremost swan 
Broad spread to glide upon the free blue road, 
So that it fell, the bitter arrow fixed, 
Bright scarlet blood gouts staining the pure plumes. 
