Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/136

LEFT STONE FLY 102 STONES, PRECIOUS fore wings, and folded at the inner edge. The body is elongated, narrow, and flat- tened; the wings fold close to the body, which generally bears two terminal bristles. The larvae are aquatic and much resemble the perfect insect, except in the absence of wings. A number of species — e. g., P. bicaudata — are common in Great Britain, and are well known to anglers as an attractive lure for fishes. STONEHAM, a town in Middlesex co., Mass.; on the Boston and Maine rail- road; 12 miles N. by W. of Boston. It contains a high school, a National bank, State armory, sanitarium, parks, public library, and several weekly newspapers. It is celebrated for its shoe and leather industries. It also has a box factory, machine shop, etc. Pop. (1910) 7,090; (1920) 7,873. STONEHENGE, a very remarkable structure composed of large artificially raised monoliths, situated on Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire, England. The an- cient Britons called it Main Ambers, or "sacred stones." The spot is surrounded by a ditch 50 feet wide; the outer circle consisted of 60 stones, 30 perpendicular, 20 feet high and nearly 4 feet apart. On the tops of these were 30 imposts, regu- larly united; within this was a second circle of 40 stones, smaller and void of imposts. There are indications of two ovals of stones intervening. Within the second circle was a cell, or adytum, in which was the altar, a huge slab of blue marble. The whole structure consisted of 140 stones. There are three entrances from the plain. The whole is surrounded by a bank of earth 15 feet high and 1,010 feet in circumference. Out of the stones composing the outer circle, 17 remain; in the inner circle 8 are entire, and frag- ments of 12 others are on the spot. The average elevation of the stones is 14 feet, the breadth 7 feet, and the thickness 3 feet. The inner oval consisted of about 20 smaller stones, of which 11 are stand- ing. Scattered over the plain are about 300 tumuli, or barrows. These, when opened, have been found to contain charred human bones. Accompanying weapons and implements shoAV that they have been utilized both by Britons and Romans for interment. In 1901, one of the great monoliths fell and was set up again. Excavations then made at the base, brought to light the stone implements originally used in cut- ting the monoliths. This seems to place the erection of Stonehenge before the bronze age, and the inference is that the structure is about 3,400 years old. The edifice was sold at auction in 1915 for $15,000. STONEMAN, GEORGE, an American military officer; born in Busti, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1822; was graduated at the United States Military Academy in 1846; served on the Pacific coast in 1847-1857; was promoted captain in 2d Cavalry in the latter year and was on duty princi- pally in Texas till 1861. While in com- mand of Fort Brown in the early part of the year he refused to surrender the government property to the Confederates at the order of Gen. David E. Twiggs. He was, however, compelled to evacuate the fort and sailed to New York. In August, 1861, he became brigadier-gen- eral of volunteers and chief of cavalry in the Army of the Potomac. He com- manded the cavalry in the Peninsular campaign of 1862, and distinguished him- self in the battle of Williamsburg on May 5 of that year; was promoted major-general of volunteers in the fol- lowing November. He participated in the raid toward Richmond in April-May, 1863, and in the Atlanta campaign in May-July, 1864. He was taken prisoner in Clinton, Ga., in July of that year and held till October. Afterward till the end of the war he performed important service in southwestern Virginia, Tennes- see, and North Carolina. He was pro- moted colonel of the 21st Infantry in July, 1866, and was brevetted brigadier- general and major-general U. S. A., in recognition of his meritorious services. In August, 1871, he resigned from the army and settled in California, of which State he was Democratic governor in 1883-1887. He died in Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1894. STONES, PRECIOUS, numerous min- eral substances, and one of two products of organic origin, used in jewelry and for other ornamental purposes on account of their rarity and beauty. The list of stones which may be regarded as precious can- not be definitely limited, as certain sub- stances appear and disappear with the fluctuations of fashion. There are a few, however, which from all times have occupied a foremost place and have been universally prized as precious stones. In such a rank and position may be placed the diamond, the ruby, the sapphire, the Oriental amethyst, and the emerald, as well as, in a lesser degree, the tourma- line, the aquamarine or pale emerald, the chrysoberyl or cat's eye, the zircon or jargoon, the opal, and the varieties of quartz, such as rock-crystal, agate, amethyst, cairngorm or Scotch topaz, chalcedony, jasper, onyx, sardonyx, etc. Among other beautiful and valuable stones much appreciated for ornamental purposes, but scarcely to be classed as precious stones, there may be included