a large mass or block of hard stone rooted in the ground. See MOUNTAIN, PETRIFICATION, and STONE.

ornithology, a species of Vulture.

Rock Basins are cavities or artificial basins of different sizes, from six feet to a few inches diameter, cut in the surface of the rocks for the purpose, as is supposed, of collecting the dew and rain pure as it descends from the heavens, for the use of ablutions and purifications, prescribed in the druidical religion; these, especially the dew, being deemed the purest of all fluids. There are two sorts of these basins, one with lips or communications between the different basins, the other simple cavities. The lips as low as the bottom of the basins, which are horizontal, and communicate with one somewhat lower, so contrived that the contents fell by a gradual descent through a succession of basins either to the ground, or into a vessel set to receive it. The basins without lips might be intended for reservoirs to preserve the rain or dew in its original purity without touching any other vessel, and was perhaps used for the druid to drink, or wash his hands, previous to officiating at any high ceremony, or else to mix with their millet.

Some of these basins are so formed as to receive the head and part of the human body; one of this kind is found on a rock called king Arthur's bed, in the parish of North Hall in Cornwall, where are also others, called by the country people Arthur's troughs, in which they say he used to feed his dogs.

Rock-Crystal, in natural history, otherwise called sprig-crystal, a name given to the third order of crystals, from their being affixed to a rock or other solid body. See Crystal.

Rock Salt. See Salt.

Rock-Oil. See Petroleum.

Rock-Fish. See Gobius.