nt here, and
they in succession urged the sand against opposite sides of the stone;
every little particle of sand chipped away its infinitesimal bit of
stone, and in the end sculptured these singular forms. [Footnote:
'These stones, which have a strong resemblance to works of human art,
occur in great abundance, and of various sizes, from half-an-inch to
several inches in length. A large number were exhibited showing the
various forms, which are those of wedges, knives, arrow-heads, &c, and
all with sharp cutting edges.

'Mr. Travers explained that, notwithstanding their artificial
appearance, these stones were formed by the cutting action of the
wind-driven sand, as it passed to and fro over an exposed
boulder-bank. He gave a minute account of the manner in which the
varieties of form are produced, and referred to the effect which the
erosive action thus indicated would have on railway and other works
executed on sandy tracts.

'Dr. Hector stated that although, as a group, the specimens on the
table could not well be mistaken for artificial productions, still the
forms are so peculiar, and the edges, in a few of them, so perfect,
that if they were discovered associated with human works, there is no
doubt that they would have been referred to the so-called "stone
period."'--Extracted from the Minutes of the Wellington Philosophical
Society, February 9, 1869.]

The Sphynx of Egypt is nearly covered up by the sand of the desert.
The neck of the Sphynx is partly cut across, not, as I am assured by
Mr. Huxley, by ordinary weathering, but by the eroding action of the
fine sand blown against it. In these cases Nature furnishes us with
hints which may be taken advantage of in art; and this action of sand
has been recently turned to extraordinary account in the United
States. When in Boston, I was taken by my courteous and helpful
friend, Mr. Josiah Quincey, to see the action of the sand-blast. A
kind of hopper containing fine silicious sand was connected with a
reservoir of compressed air, the pressure being variable at pleasure.
The hopper ended in a long slit, from which the sand was blown. A
plate of glass was placed beneath this slit, and caused to pass slowly
under it; it came out perfectly depolished, with a bright opalescent
glimmer, such as could only be produced by the most careful grinding.
Every little particle of sand urged against the glass, having all its
energy concentrated on the point of impact, forme