103 ists. It is found very good at Redhead, Kirkside,

three miles east of Montrose, and at a place half way between Montrose and Aberdeen, all in Scotland.

Agate, a species of semitransparent flint, which naturalists are agreed in placing in this order, as well as the onyx, on account of their beauty and estimation. The oriental is almost transparent, of a glafsy whitish colour, with inward protuberances. The occidental is commonly variegated with different colours, and sometimes veined with quartz or jasper, but lefs transparent than the oriental. A fine variety of the agate is the mocho stone, ornamented with beautiful arborizations, from the place that gives it its name. Three other varieties of agate are mentioned here, principally on account of their curiosity and fanciful names, particularly the two last, which can be turned to no useful purpose on account of their small volume. The seive stone is an agatised fungites, of which we have much in Rufsia, evidently a sea production, but the original inhabitant unknown to naturalists. The transparency of the agate matter, of which this petrifaction is composed, makes its numerous pores appear open, which has acquired it the name of the seive stone. The aigle stone is a globular pebble, or goede, containing another loose within it like a kernel. The swallow stone is a small agate jasper pebble, like a lentile, commonly checkquered red and white.

Structure, Properties, &c.

There is no difference in the qualities of the whole fint genus worth noticing, but a greater or lefser de

!

those of all at once;-texture solid and even, breaking with smooth surfaces; one convex the other concave, and always hard enough to strike fire, with steel; infusible per se, but affected by the usual Auxes.

Where found.

The occidental agates are found in many parts of Europe; but the most esteemed in Bochlitz in Saxony, and Oberstein in the Palatinate. Agate Hikewise often forms the stony matter of petrifactions. Agates are found in Scotland in the Kinoul bill, Dundee, Montrose, Redhead, Kirkside, Airfbire, Fife, &c.

The following four stones are likewise only different species of flint, according to most writers, and therefore are included in this section.

CALCEDONY.

Its colour is commonly a bluish cloudy white, or grey, although Rufsia furnishes a blue variety little known in other countries, but much esteemed for its beauty and uncommon colour. When the calcedony contains a drop of water like the opal, then it is named Hydrophanes, with the occulus mundi. Born mentions a vitreous calcedony under the name of the demi opal.

Where found.

Chalcedony, or calcedony, very fine from Lethro, three miles west of Cupar of Fife, Kinoul;-turned up by the plough, in both those places ;-this is sinė gular. Though both these places abound with peb. bles in the rocks, yet none of those are found in the rock; yet are very plenty in the ground hard by, and the deeper the ground is turned up the better the chalcedony is.

Carnelian, the best is of an orange or yellow red, and gives fire with steel, which the whitish and yellowish do not. Sardonyx consists of calcedony and carnelian in zones or spots, and, what is very surprising, is harder than the two stones which compose it. It serves likewise for cutting, like the onyx, in cameos.

The Cachelony is regarded in general as an opaque white calcedony; but Pallas thinks it the spuma maris, or theffekil, with which the Turkish and Canadian pipes are made, hardened by fire. Russia is particularly rich in most of the articles of this section. The Rufsian onyx from the Daurian mountains, and rivers Argun and Onon, is a variety with yellowish zones. Our blue calcedony from the rivulet Borsam, near the Argun, and at Saganoloi on the borders of China, discovered by Laxman, is unique; our cachelony from the Urak, Irtish, and Argun, with those of Bucharea, supply all Europe. It is only the most remarkable and interesting stones whose native spot is noted; for to mention the numerous places where the more common are found, would fill a section of itself.

Red carnelian is found at Lethro and other places in Fife, and often small pieces by the sea fhore.

Value.

Our sieve stone, about five rubles a ring stone. Blue calcedony from four to ten for a seal according to colour; cachelony the same as the last, from scarcity. Carnelian from three to five for a seal. To be concluded in another number.

VOL. XV.

THE BEAR LEADER, A FABLE. A COMPETITION PIECE.

For the Bee.

Quod quisque vitet nunquam homini satis cautum est in horas. HOR. WHEN Bozzy led a rambling bear,

(A very sapient wight I ween,
And worthy too, as e'er was seen;
A friend to virtuous word and deed:
And yet it makes my bosom bleed
To think how far the cank'ring rust
Of prejudices fhould encrust
This spirit of an edge so fine,
As fhow'd its workmanship divine,)
When Bozzy led this idling bear,
At Scotland's nakednefs to stare;
And lay his coarse uncivil paw,
On her poor hollow freckled jaw-
They travell'd far, (I drop the figure
Of bear,) like men of special vigour :
They travell'd far from house or hold,
In their adventure very bold;
Till on a time it was their lot

To spy a little lowly cot;

Here they would halt, and hop'd that here,
Tho' homely, they might have some cheer.
They enter'd, and sight not uncommon,
Beheld a little poor old woman,
Who star'd at first ;-at such a pair,
Who would not be inclin'd to stare?
She star'd no doubt; then with a smile
Bade them sit down, and rest a while.
They thank'd her, sat on lowly seat,
Said they were hungry,-wifh'd to eat;
Were very hungry,-were not nice;
With thanks would pay her any price.
Alas, (said Goody,) I've nae fude,

66

"That gentle folks wad reckon gude."

'I seek no dainties; but I beg,
'Good woman, I may have an egg,'
Said Johnson, and, with surly pride,
Growling to Bozzy half aside,
I think no Caledonian brute

Can easily an egg pollute.'

Some eggs they got with thell unbroken;
Of cleanlinefs no doubt a token.

So Johnson gulp'd them down and smil'd;-
Own'd they were good,--they had a wild

But now with grief my muse proceeds,
To tell the sequel of these deeds;
And how this poor old woman came
To put their sapience to fhame.
Johnson grew thirsty, bade her bring
A little water from the spring;

Sir, I hae nane, (the said ;) ye know,
You who have travell'd to and fro,
Thro' Scotland, spite of all our hills,
Our lakes, cascades, and gufhing rill
That in dry weather 'tis not easy,
Oft, to have water that will please ye.'
"No water" with immense surprise,
Said Bozzy rolling both his eyes,

6

In sad dismay. "No water, woman!"

Troth, Sir, the thing is not uncommon." But Bozzy was not to be foil'd;

66

Nay tell me how your eggs were boil'd "You sure some water had for that." He thought the question very pat, And look'd for Johnson's approbation, Who frown'd in prescient agitation, At th' explanation somewhat guessing. Poor Bozzy guess'd not, but more prefsing, "You, sure, some water had for that ;" In troth, a tweel,-a weel a wat!'