S. stellata Lsqx. and S. spinulosa Germ. may turn out to be the

same.

15. Flora Fossilis Helvetia and Flora Fossilis Arctica of OSWALD HEER, Professor of the University of Zurich.--The third part of Professor Heer's Flora Fossilis Helvetia has appeared, completing it. This work, which contains 70 plates, is a supplement to Heer's Flora Tertiaria Helvetia, a work in three volumes with 156 plates. The publishers, J. Wurster & Co., Zurich, have issued also four volumes of the Flora Fossilis Arctica, and the fifth is now in the press. The first four volumes of this work contain 214 plates, and the fifth, 44.

16. Mineralogy and Lithology of New Hampshire; by GEORGE W. HAWES, Instructor in Mineralogy in the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College. Part IV, of the third volume of the Geology of New Hampshire, 262 pp. roy. 8vo, with 12 plates. Concord, N. H., 1878.-No part of the publications of the New Hampshire Geological Survey has greater value than this Report by Mr. Hawes on the mineralogy and lithology of the State. The author, besides giving descriptions of external characters and notices of distribution, and of economic uses, in the ordinary style, includes the results of extended microscopic examinations of both minerals and rocks; and many of the most interesting points are illustrated on plates, some of them in colors. The report is therefore an important contribution to the science of lithology. The are some peculiarities in the nomenclature of the rocks; but these do not seriously interfere with the value of the original work. In addition, the author has added, in an introduction to the volume, full details as to the process of slicing minerals or rocks, and explained the method of making microscopic and polariscopic observations on crystals of the several systems. Besides this, he has introduced much information with regard to the distinctions by the same means of the more common minerals. The chromo-lithographic and other plates are beautifully made by E. Crisand of New Haven, Ct., from excellent drawings by the author, and compare well with the best of foreign work of the kind.

17. American Minerals.-Strengite in crystals has been described by Prof. G. A. König, from Rockbridge Co., Virginia. It occurred in cavities in scorodite. An analysis gave Phosphoric acid 39-30, iron sesquioxide 42.3, water 19.87. The author gives a figure of one of the crystals in his paper in the Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, for 1877, p. 277.

Niccolite has been identified by Prof. König among the minerals of "Silver Islet," Lake Superior, associated with galenite, sphalerite and native silver.

Protovermiculite is a vermiculite-like mineral occurring in large grayish-green folia at Magnet Cove, Arkansas, and so named by Prof. König, in the same volume of Proceedings (p. 269): the luster is submetallic, and G. 2.269. Analysis afforded SiO, 33-28, AIO, 14·88, FeO, 6·36, FeO 0·57, MnO ̊ trace, MgO 21-52,

3

=

TiO, trace, H2O 3:36, hygroscopic H2O 20 54 = 100·51, giving the quantivalent ratio for R, R, Si, 8.735: 8.842: 17·738 = 1:1 : 2. 18. Rocks of Quincy south of Boston and Rockport, near Cape Ann, northeast of Boston.-Mr. M. E. WADSWORTH states that the Quincy syenyte consists chiefly of orthoclase, quartz and hornblende, and that the hornblende is black to dark green in color and included in the quartz; but that there is present some triclinic feldspar and also in some parts disseminated minute crystals of danalite. The stone of the Rockport quarries has been called by most writers syenyte; but Mr. Wadsworth states that at least 65 per cent of it is micaceous and destitute of hornblende, and hence true granite. But while the quarried rock is almost wholly granite, there is some syenyte. The two are so associated that they are geologically one and the same rock." Besides orthoclase, quartz, and black mica, the last (referred to lepidomelane by Cooke), there are in some parts of the Rockport granite, the minerals cryophyllite and danalite, first announced by Professor Cooke.

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19. On Ionite, a new Mineral; by S. PURNELL.-In the Pliocene argillaceous lignite of Ione valley, Amador county, California, a peculiar mineral, more or less pure, occurs in thin seams. The specimen examined by me was of what may be called the best quality. It is a firm, earthy, ochreous looking substance of a brownish-yellow color. As it comes from the mine, it contains about 50 per cent of water, but when thoroughly air-dried it readily floats on water, its specific gravity being about 90. It rapidly re-absorbs water and sinks.

It bears a physical resemblance to the pyropissite of Kengott, found in the lignite of Weissenfels, and like it, melts to a pitchlike mass, which burns easily, with the emission of a dense black smoke having a resinous and aromatic odor, and with a yellow flame. But that it is not pyropissite, or indeed any mineral heretofore described, will, I think, be plain from the examination.

Ionite is not a pure hydrocarbon, as it contains 13 per cent of impurities-principally aluminum silicate. Streak, reddish-yellow; fracture, irregular; luster, none. When pulverized, water dissolves or suspends a portion of the clay in the mineral. Partially soluble in cold alcohol; more so in boiling alcohol, giving a brown solution. Upon the addition of water no precipitate is deposited, but the solution becomes permanently of a milky color, which may be from the presence of paraffine. Very largely solu ble in ether, forming a brownish-black solution. Upon adding 'water a brown, tarry substance is obtained, which is very inflammable, and which, while burning, gives off the odor of burning sealing wax. Completely soluble in chloroform, except the clay or ash, forming a brownish-black solution. Poured into water a brown oil falls to the bottom. Partially soluble in cold, more so in boiling oil of turpentine, forming a wine-red solution. Upon concentration of the solution, crystals of paraffine are separated. Almost entirely insoluble both in cold and boiling petroleum

naphtha; gives a pale red solution. In boiling rectified petroleum, free from naphtha and paraffine, slightly more soluble than in naphtha; gives a pale red solution.

Subjected to dry distillation a brown, tarry oil passes over, mixed with green-colored water. This water is decidedly acid to litmus. At first the oil has a specific gravity less than that of water, but after a few days sinks in the same. This oil and water possesses a very offensive odor, altogether indescribable. The oil is completely soluble in alcohol and oil of turpentine. Tested for paraffine, the oil was proved to contain it, though only in small quantity. I am of the opinion that the amount does not exceed 5 per cent, but this was not determined accurately.

From the examination this mineral may be pronounced an acid hydrocarbon, or fossil cerite, more or less oxidized and more or less impregnated with clay. From its varying solubilities, it is probably a mixture of different hydrocarbon compounds.

As this mineral is found in Ione valley, I would propose to name it from the locality, Tonite. To what industrial uses Ionite may be applied, has not yet been investigated, and it is foreign to the purpose of this paper to inquire.-Mining and Scientific Press, March 24, 1877.

20. Cyrstallization of Silica; P. HAUTEFEUILLE.-If amorphous silica is kept in sodium tungstate at the temperature of fusion of silver, silica crystallizes in minute crystals of the species tridymite. If the temperature is kept long at 1000° C., the tridymite is obtained in thick hexagonal scales. Sp. gr. 2:30 at 16° C. Tridymite is less permanent than quartz when acted upon by the wet or dry process.

By means of tungstate of soda, amorphous silica or tridymite may be changed to quartz. At a temperature of 750° C., or that just sufficient to hold the tungstate in fusion, the grains of amorphous silica disappear; and after several hundred hours of heating, double hexagonal pyramids of quartz are obtained. Sp. gr. = 2.61 - 2.65. The crystals contain a trace of tungstic acid and 0.003 per cent of soda.

The crystallization is so slow at 750° C., that practically it is necessary to adopt the following method: the silica with the fused tungstate is made to oscillate in temperature many times between 800 and 950°; with the increasing heat the silica combines with the soda, and with the decrease, the silica is precipitated by the tungstic acid. At the commencement of each period of cooling the silica takes the form of tridymite, but as the temperature falls below about 850° C., it takes that of quartz.-Bull. Soc. Min. de France, No. 1, p. 1, 1878.

21. Tridymite.-M. SCHUSTER has examined the tridymite from an oligoclase-trachyte of Monte Gioino near Tiolo in the Euganean Hills (Northern Italy), and concludes that its crystals are twins under the triclinic system, its optical characters affording evidence in favor of this conclusion.-Min. u. petrogr. Mittheil. herausg. v. G. Tschermak, Heft 1.

22. Mineralogical Society of France.-A mineralogical society was instituted in Paris on the 21st of March of the present year, and the first number of its Bulletin appeared in April. The President of the Society is the eminent mineralogist, M. DesCloizeaux; the Vice President, M. Mallard; Secretary, M. Richard; and Treasurer, M. Delesse.

M. Mallard describes, in the first number of the Bulletin, the new mineral Bravaisite, from the coal formation of Noyant. It has an argillaceous appearance and is thinly laminated but with a fibrous structure under the microscope. The color is gray, slightly greenish. When moistened, it is almost gum-like, rather than plastic, and strongly unctuous. Fuses easily to a white globule, and is attacked by acids. An analysis afforded Sio, 51-40, AIO, 18'90, FeO, 400, CaO 2.00, MgO 3.30, K,O 6.50, H2O 13.30=99-40, giving the quantivalent ratio for R, R, Si, H2, 1:33:9 16:393; or 1:3:9: 4, if the iron is excluded as due to the pyrites present. M. Mallard observes that it is in its composition near pinite, glauconite and carpholite; but nearer a potash zeolite.

3

2

23. Analcite.-Dr. A. von Lasaulx has examined sections of the picranalcite of Monte Catini, and finds the radiate twinning structure to indicate that the crystals are of the orthorhombic system and analogous to those of phillipsite.-N. Jahrb. f. Min., 1878, p. 510.

III. BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY.

1. Two new Fern-books are evidences of increasing attention to this beautiful order of plants, both as to botanical study and ornamental cultivation. Perhaps we may in time come to have as copious and popular a fern-literature as that of Great Britain; the crowning work still being the classical one of Professor Eaton, which will take some time to finish. The new-comers are of much less pretension, are handy-books in single 12mo. volumes, of very moderate price, and likely to have a large circulation. The one first published is

Ferns of Kentucky, with sixty full-page etchings and six wood cuts, drawn by the Author, illustrating Structure, Fertilization, Classification, Genera and Species. By JOHN WILLIAMSON, Louisville, Ky. Morton & Co. 1878. pp. 154. The typography is apparently as good as if it were printed in New England instead of Kentucky, where it was not only set up but electrotyped. The illustrations are the author's own etchings on copper, but printed from lithographic transfers, "in every respect as well done as if they had been printed direct." They are anyhow fairly well done, and etching has a certain advantage in exhibiting structure or texture, as the author remarks. The magnified views have probably lost somewhat of expression and sharpness in the transfer. But the gain in cheapness is not to be overlooked. Still the woodcut figures of the sporangia are much the best, and stand out with refreshing distinctness. A few pages are occupied with the sub

jects of cultivation, structure and classification. The bulk of the book is devoted to the ferns of Kentucky, and these are treated in a manner to make all plain and clear to amateurs in that State. It serves as well for the adjacent States, which have the same species. We could have helped the author to one more Asplenium, viz. A. parvulum, which is so abundant in East Tennessee and West Virginia that it cannot fail to inhabit Kentucky. Indeed Mr. Williamson's words in introducing the Ebony Spleenwort give ground for the inference that he, like so many others, has taken A. parvulum for a small state of A. ebeneum.

Ferns in their Homes and Ours, by JOHN ROBINSON, is the taking title of the second book on this subject. It is published by Cassino of Salem, the publisher of the Ferns of America, to which it becomes a desirable and useful companion. It fills 178 pages, and is illustrated by twenty-two plates, eight of them color-printed representations of species, besides a frontispiece photograph, exhibiting the attractive "Fern-corner" of the author's conservatory. The others represent growth, fertilization and structure of ferns, Fern-cases and jardinieres, out-of-door fernery, pots, pans, baskets, and other appliances, and lastly, a plate supplied by Professor Packard shows up the insects which are pests to cultivated ferns. This work does not describe the species of ferns, but deals with them in a general way, tracing their life-history, discussing their classification and distribution, recounting their principal literature, at least as to the bibliography of the popular and some of the more elaborate works, explains in detail the way to collect them for cultivation, how to establish ferneries and fern-cases, what ferns to grow and where and how, with lists of good species for cultivation, including also Selaginellas, their natural associates. In fact nothing of a practical nature, that we know of, is overlooked, not even the troubling of an out-of-doors fernery by the midnight revels of cats, for which evil an appropriate treatment is prescribed. The book-every way a most attractive one-is so well up to the time, and so full of information, that it even announces, most handsomely, Mr. Williamson's volume, which was published only a fortnight before it. We wish for both books the success they deserve. For the study of species of the middle United States, the Kentucky Manual supplies the want. For general fern-lore and fern-management the Salem work has no rival. The amateur may be happy with either, happier and best provided with both.

A. G.

2. T. MACOUN; Catalogue of the Phonogamous and Cryptogamous Plants (including Lichens) of the Dominion of Canada, south of the Arctic Circle. Belleville, Ontario. pp. 52. 8vo.-The range takes in British Columbia; the number of species mounts up to 3,081; of the Phænogams to 2,271. It is a naked, numbered list, with no indication of locality or range,-one useful for botanical exchanges, and convenient for other purposes, neatly printed, but not free from typographical oversights. Over 2,900 of the species here enumerated have been collected in their native