102 
THE FAIRY-LAND OF SCIENCE. 
which it collects, and then sinks into the ground 
forcing its way between the grains of earth. But you 
would hardly think that the beautiful pillars in Fig. 24 
have been made entirely in this way by rain beating 
upon and soaking into the ground. 
Fig. 04. 
Earth-pillars near Botzen, in the Tyrol. 
(Adapted from Lyell's ' Principles.') 
Where these pillars stand there was once a solid 
mass of clay and stones, into which the rain-drops 
crept, loosening the earthy particles ; and then when 
the sun dried the earth again, cracks were formed so 
that the next shower loosened it still more, and carried 
some of the mud down into the valley below. But 
here and there large stones were buried in the clay, 
and where this happened the rain could not penetrate, 
