AND MONTHLY BULLETIN. INSECTS IN AMBER. "Sir Plume, of amber snuff box justly vain. And the nice conduct of a clouded cane,"-Pope. At the Centennial Exhibition few things attracted more attention than the remarkable displays of amber. The insects in amber were especially noticed. The best of these I have recently purchased and can supply at far lower rates than specimens of equal merit have heretofore been sold. A fly imprisoned in amber is a gem that thousands who are not collectors wear as charms, believing as Pliny states that it is useful in medicine. He writes "Callistratus saith, that amber collars are very good for all ages, and namely to preserve as many as wear them against fantastical illusions and frights that drive folks out of their wits; yea and amber, whether it be taken in drinks or hung about one, cureth the difficulty of voiding urine." Besides flies in amber I have also spiders entombed in the same mass, evidently intent upon their prey, beetles, gnats and moths. These vary in price from 50c. to $3.00. Fine specimens of copalite from 25 cents to $1.00. Some containing insects. FLEXIBLE SANDSTONE. Itacolumite is interesting for its remarkable flexibility, exceeding any other mineral in this quality except the mountain paper which I have from New York, and the very long fibred asbestos, that I have from San Birnardino, Co., California. Unlike these however it is extensile as well as flexible, some pieces stretching as much as half inch. It is the gangue of the diamond. Remarkably good pieces on hand from North Carolina. Some of the pieces show a flexion of five inches. Specimens from 15 cents to $1.50 in value. OPALS. Milky opals that gleam and shine, A large collection of these both cut and uncut. Most of them were collected by the geologist of the San Domingo Expedition, Prof. Gabb. They are full of fire and are the true precious opal. Price from 25 cents to $2.00. Also the variety of opal called geyserite, or Pealite, from the Yellowstone National Park. Price 25 cents to $2.00. At the Centennial Exposition, even the diamonds did not attract as much attention as the opals. AMAZON STONE, MICROCLINE. It has recently been ascertained by the investigation of Des Cloiseaux that nearly all the Amazon stone is a new species of feldspar called Microcline. He made bis original investigation which caused him to found the species upon material which I obtained in Magnet Cove, Arkansas, and sent to Prof. Pisani of Paris, in the winter of 1874. This he pronounces the purest Microline he has ever seen from any locality. The color is exceedingly inferior to that obtained in Pike's Peak, Col., which Prof. König has shown to be derived from an organic salt of iron. The locality is 40 miles from any village, 7 miles from any travelled road, and for this distance the road has been built through high peaks of the Rocky Mountains in order to bring the Amazon stone out. No ores have been found in connection with it, although the country has been burrowed by practical miners for the last 20 years. The rock in which the Amazon stone is found is a very porous, graphic granite containing no veins of any sort and Amazon stone is found entirely in surface pockets, all of which have run out at a depth of 8 or 10 feet. The deposit extends over a limited area beyond which the most energetic prospecting has failed to reveal much more than a few traces of color. And as I am a practical collector of 16 years experience in the Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern States, I feel that I can confidently say that the locality is virtually exhausted. I am selling crystalized Amazon stone, for about one hundreth the price that it was ever sold, before 1875 when this locality was discovered. I visited the locality before any, except surface specimens, had been removed, and have since that time made six trips to it. So I have nine-tenths of all the specimens now offered for sale in stock, although I have sold over $5,000 worth since 1875. I still furnish good crystals at from 50 cents to $50.00; slabs and pieces 5 cents to 50 cts. Many of these are sold for less than the cost of cleaning and freight. It is a triclinic potash feldspar, very close to orthoclase in angles, and also in physical characters, and identical with it in composition. The angle between its cleavage planes varying but 16' from 90°; and hence its cleavage surface shows usually the fine striations exhibited, with rare exceptions, by all triclinic feldspars. Colors white, flesh-red, copper green. The last is the purest. Pele's Hair. BY PROF. JAMES D. DANA. American Journal of Sciences, August, 1879. The capillary volcanic glass of Kilauea, collected by the writer at the volcano, in the year 1840 was analyzed for the writer's Geological Report of the Exploring Expedition (1849) by Prof. B. Silliman (B. Silliman, Jr.), and the results are published in it on page 200. The large discrepancies between the two analyses there reported one of a dark and the other of a pale variety, and especially the difference as to soda, one being stated to contain 2162 per cent., and the other none, left the question of composition in great doubt. I have now to report two new satisfactory analyses of the glass. For these, science is indebted to F. J. Allen of the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College, excepting the determination of the state of oxidation of the iron, which is by Prof. O. D. Allen. The results were as follows: 50.75 Si O2 Alg03 FeO3 Feo MnO MgO Pelés Hair. 16.54 2:10 7.88 tr. 7.65 West Rock "trap" 51:80 14.21 3:55 8:36 0:42 7.63 CaO Na2O K20 ign Total, Pelés Hair, 11.96 2.13 0.56 0.35=99-92 West Rock"trap" 110-68 2·15 0·39 063=99·72+P2050.14 The "trap" consists of labradorite and augite with some magnetite. It is hence identical with the most abundant kind of igneous rocks. The fusibility of such a compound is thus well indicated by the facts at Kilauea. Moreover it is not surprising, since the fusibility of both labradorite and ordinary black augite are each marked down as low as 3 by Von Kobell. There is hence no question as to the complete fusion of such ingredients in a volcano, even where moisture is not present. The analyses add another to the many examples already known, proving that there was no difference in constitution between a large part of the material in fusion and ejected in Mesozoic time and that thrown out by modern volcanos; and it illustrates the fact that geology has no good basis for the distinction of "older" and younger" among igneous rocks. An important paper on the microscopic characters of Pélé's Hair has been published at Tubingen (in 1877) by C. Fr. W. Krukenberg, in a pamphlet giving also the results of the author's investigations on Tachylyte, and Hyalumelan, Glassy Porous and Sphaerulitic Basalt and Obsidian. He states, and illustrates by figures, the following facts respecting Pélé's Hair. The fibres are sometimes bent and coalesced into loops; often are tubular; frequently contain air bubbles, and occasionally microlites. There is usually an enlargement of the diameter whenever a crystal (or microlite) exists within, and also about many of the air-cavities. The crystals are mostly rhombic, but as to their kinds the author makes no suggestion. (Specimens of Pélé's Hair, 25c. to $1.00; or for microscope 10c. to 15c. Lavas, pumice, &c., &c., 15c. to $1.00 per specimen.-A. E. F.) SHELLS, FOSSILS, BIRDS, EGGS, And all objects of NATURAL HISTORY are bought, sold and exchanged By A. E. FOOTE, M. D., 1223 BELMONT AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, PA. Specimens sent to any part of the world by mail. Specimen copy of an illustrated monthly bulletin of 16 pages sent free. Subscription 50 cents a year, for club rates and premiums see each monthly issue. I received the highest award given to any one at the Centennial Exposition of 1876, and the only award and medal given to any American for "Collections of Minerals." My Mineralogical Catalogue of 50 pages is distributed free to all customers, to others on receipt of 10 cents. It is profusely illustrated, and the printer and engraver charged me about $900.00 before a copy was struck off. By means of the table of species and accompanying tables most species may be verified. The price list is an excellent check list, containing the names of all the species and the more common varieties, arranged alphabetically and preceded by the species number. The species number indicates the place of any mineral in the table of species, after it will be found the species name, composition, streak or lustre, cleavage or fracture, hardness, specific gravity, fusibility and crystallization. I have very many species not on the price list, and some that I had in 1876 are no longer in stock. COLLECTIONS OF MINERALS For Students, Amateurs, Professors, Physicians, and other Professional Men. The collections of 100 illustrate all the principal species and all the grand subdivisions in Dana and other works on Mineralogy; every Crystalline System; all the principal Ores and Minerals in which have been found every known Element. The collections are labelled with printed label that can only be removed by soaking. The labels of the $5.00 and higher priced collections give Dana's species number, the name, locality, and in most cases, the composition of the Mineral. All collections accompanied by my Illustrated Catalogue and table of species. The sizes given are average; some smaller, many larger. I have now over thirty-five tons, and over $40,000 worth of Minerals, mostly crystallized in stock. It is well recognised that my prices are lower and my specimens more accurately labelled than those of any other dealer in the country. This is mainly due to the immense stock I carry (the largest in minerals of any in the country) and my system of printed labels attached to the specimens. I can refer to the following Gentlemen and Colleges, all of whom, with thousands of others, have bought specimens of me, most of them have given me especial permission to use their names as reference. Prof. S. F. Baird, Prof. F. V. Hayden, Dr. Joseph Leidy, Prof. F. A. Genth, Prof. J. D. and E. S. Dana, Prof. G. J. Brush, Prof. J. P. Cooke, Prof. N. H. Winchell, Prof. S. F. Peckham, Prof. T. Eggleston, Prof. J. S. Newberry, Prof. C. F. Chandler, Prof. R. H. Richards, Mrs. Prof. Ellen S. Richards, Prof. Maria S. Eaton, Prof. T. Sterry Hunt, Prof, Henry How, Wm. S. Vaux, C. S. Bement, N. Spang, T. A. Green, Prof. J. W. Mallett, Prof. E. A. Smith, Prof. J. Lawrence Smith, Prof. G. A. Koenig, Dr. T. M. Chatard, Ph. D., Prof. H. B. Cornwall, Prof. P. T. Austen, Laurenco Malheiro, Lisbon, Portugal, Prof. Orton, Prof. Ira Remsen, General A. Gadolin, Imp. School of Mines, St. Petersburg, Russia, Prof. Á. E. Nordenschiold, Royal Museum, Stockholm, Sweden, Dr. Nicolo Moreira, Imperial Museum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, British Museum, Royal Museum, Berlin, Dr. P. E. Defferari, Italy, Harvard Univer sity, University of Minnesota, Yale College, Wisconsin University, Columbia College, Michigan University, Wellesley College, Illinois Industrial University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Col. School of Mines, University of Virginia, University of Missouri, Rutger's College, University of Notre Dame, Princeton College, University of Nashville, Johns Hopkins University, University of Georgia, Waco University, Texas, University of Ohio, and many others in Mississippi, Alabama, Oregon, Washington Territory, California, fowa, Canada, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Indiana, Kentucky, Chili, England, Brazil, Germany, Australia, &c., &c. Catalogue of 2,500 species of Shells, made for me by Geo. W. Tryon, Jr., who has labelled nearly all my shells, 3 cts., printed on heavy paper with genus label list 10 cts. I have purchased one or two of the most celebrated collections known, and have now over 2,000 lbs., 3,000 species, and 30,000 specimens of Shells and Corals in stock. Catalogue of Birds, Eggs, Eyes, Skins, &c., &c., 3 cts. Catalogue of Books, Natural History, including Zoology, Botany, Agriculture, Horticulture, &c., 16 pp., 3 cts. Medicine, &c., 16 pp., 3 cts, Geology, Mineralogy, Mining and Metallurgy, State Surveys, Travels, &c., 16 pp., 3 cts. Chemistry, I hysics, Astronomy, Meteorology, &c., 16 pp., 3 cts. A large stock of Fossils and Rocks, Plants, Ferns and Algae on hand. While I have made Mineralogy a specialty, as is evinced by the hundreds of thousands of specimens of Amazon Stone, Rutile, Brookite, Perofskite, Amethyst, Smoky Quartz, Green Wavellite, Gothite, Variscite, &c., &c., that I have sent all over the world at from one-half to one-tenth the price they were ever sold at before I furnish collections of Shells, Rocks, &c., at nearly as low rates. The Society for the Encouragement of Studies at Home has for a long time recommended their correspondents to get their collections of Rocks and Minerals of me. As the correct naming of the specimens will be the important point to most persons, I feel justified in mentioning that I have been a collector of Minerals for fifteen years; that I was a student under Prof. Wolcott Gibbs at Cambridge, and Prof. A. Hoffmau at Berlin. I was also Instructor at Michigan University, and Professor in the Iowa S. A. College in Chemistry and Mineralogy for six years. Send for the Naturalist's Leisure Hour, giving full particulars. Specimen copy free. You will confer a double favor by handing this to some physician, or other person interested in science. A. E. FOOTE, M. D., 1223 BELMONT AVE., PHILADELPHIA, PA., Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; Life Member of the of Natural History, Central Park, New York. R Fe mostly, also Mn. His conclusions are confirmed by the results of Mr. Wells' analysis of lithiophilite. Rammelsberg found (as a mean of four analyses) in the Bodenmais mineral 89-97 p. c. FeO, and 9-80 p. c. MnO Mr. Penfield in his analysis of the Grafton, New Hampshire, obtained 26.09 p. c. of FeO and 18.17 p. c. Mno. The altered triphylite from Norwich, Mass., also contains a considerable amount of manganese, but as manganese sesquioxide (22:59-24 70 p. c.); the unaltered mineral has never been analyzed. These facts go to show that between the true triphylite,-the iron-lithium phosphate,--and the lithiophilite,-the manganese-lithium phosphate-a number of different compounds exist, containing varying amounts of iron and manganese, as is true in many other analogous cases of isomorphous groups of compounds. It is probable, however, that to all varieties of the two minerals belongs the general formula: I R3PO4+R3P20 Pyrognostics,-In the closed tube give traces of mois. ture, turns dark-brown and fuses but does not become magnetic. Fuses in the naked lamp-flame and B.B., gives an intense lithia-red flame streaked with pale green on the lower edge, Dissolves in the fluxes giving in O.F. a deep amethystine bead, and in R.F. a faint reaction for iron. Soluble in acids. The name lithiophilite, from lithium and philos, friend, may properly be given to this species as it contains a very high percentage of lithia. 5. REDDINGITE. Physical characters.-Reddingitę occurs sparingly in minute octahedral crystals, belonging to the orthorhombic system. It is also found more generally massive with granular structure; it is associated with dickinsonite, and sometimes with triploidite. As compared with the other species which have been described it is a decidedly rare mineral. The massive mineral shows a distinct cleavage in one plane, crystallographic direction of which could not be ascertained in the crystals owing to their small size. The hardness is 3-35; and the specific gravity for the mineral analyzed, containing 12 p. c. quartz is 304; this give on calculation for the pure mineral 3-102. The luster is vitreous to sub-resinous; the color of the perfectly unaltered mineral pale rose-pink to yellowishwhite, sometimes with a tinge of brown; crystals are occasionally coated dark reddish-brown from surface alteration; the streak is white. Transparent to translucent; fracture uneven; brittle. Crystaline form.-The crystals of reddingite are rare and occur only in cavities in the massive mineral. They have uniformly an octahedral habit; sometimes only the unit pyramid is present and in other cases a second macrodiagonal pyramid, with the brachypinacoid as shown in the accompanying figure. The crystals belong to the ORTHORHOMBIC SYSTEM. The fundamental angles are as follows: 111 111 PAP"", 111 111 76, 50' 110° 43' These angles are only tolerably exact, the probable error being as high as 5'. The axial ratio calculated from the above angles is : It is interesting to note here that the same formula was deduced by M. Debray* for an artificial salt which he obtained in brilliant crystalline grains by boiling a solution of phosphoric acid in excess with pure magnanese carbonate. He gives, however, no description of the crystals obtained. The close correspondence of reddingite with scorodite and strengite has already been pointed out; chemically the relation is not so close, for the manganese is all in the lowest state of oxidation and only three molecules of water are present. The formulas for the three minerals are as follows: Pyrognostic.-On heating in the closed tube, whitens at first, then turns yellow and finally brown, but does not become magnetic. In the forceps fuses in the naked lamp flame (F-2). B.B. colors the flame pale green and fuses easily to a blackish-brown non-magnetic globule. Dissolves in the fluxes and reacts for manganese and iron. Soluble in hydrochloric and nitric acids. Reddingite is named from the town in which the locality is situated. It was the last of the above species to be discovered, and we were led to make an especial search for it by finding black octahedrons implanted un one specimen which were obviously pseudoinorphs aid which could not be referred to any known species. Another specimen exhibited pseudomorphs of the same species, but where the alteration was not so far advanced. 6. FAIRFIELDITE.—2nd PAPER AUG., 1879. General physical characters.-Fairfieldite occurs usually in massive crystalline aggregates; also rarely in distinct crystals. The structure is foliated to lamellar, some varieties closely resembling selenite; also occasionally in radiating masses consisting of curved foliated or fibrous aggregations; these radiated forms are not unlike stilbite. The hardness is 3.5, and the specific gravity 3.15. The luster is pearly to sub-adamantine; on the surface of perfect cleavage (b) it is highly brilliant. The color is white to pale straw-yellow; the streak is white. Transparent. Brittle. Two rather distinct varieties have been observed, the first (A) occurs filling cavities in the reddingite, and covering the distinct crystals of this mineral. It is uniformly clear and transparent, and is highly lustrous, showing entire absence of even incipient alteration. It is generally foliated to lamellar, although sometimes of a somewhat radiated structure. The second variety (B) occurs in masses of considerable size interpenetrated rather irregularly with quartz, and quite uniformly run through with thin seams and lines of a black manganesian mineral of not very clearly defined character. This mineral is granular in texture, lustrous, is difficultly fusible, and consists for the most part of the hydrated oxides of manganese and iron; but contains also phosphoric acid and traces of lime. This second variety of fairfieldite is often friable to the touch and lacks something of the brilliant luster of the first variety. It also shows greater difference of structure, passing from the distinct crystals to the massive and radiated form. The identity of these two kinds is shown by the analyses given below. Fairfieldite also occurs in small particles in fillowite (described beyond), and in masses of some size immediately associated with eosphorite, triploidite, and dickinsonite. "Crystalline form.—Indistinct crystals of fairfeldite occur occasionally in cavities in the massive mineral. They are usually composite in character, made up of many individual crystals, interpenetrating each other, and in only an approximately parallel position. On the most favorable crystals the form could be clearly made out, but exact measurements were quite impossible; this is the more to be regretted as the number of variable elements is so large. The cleavage parallel to b (010) is highly perfect; that parallel to a (100) somewhat less so. The crystals belong to the Triclinic System, and the general habit is shown in the adjoining figure. The following supplement angles were accepted as the basis of the calculations. In one case an apparent penetration-twin was observed, the two crystals crossing one another so that the planes b and a of the one were parallel respectively to the planes a and b of the other. If this coincidence were perfect (exact measurement was out of the question) and the crystals were really a twin the twinning-plane must make with a (100) an angle of either 51° (toward 010) or 39° (towards 010). This condition is equally well satisfied by the plane 270 (100 ▲ 270 = 51° 4′), or by 270 (100 ▲ 270 = 39° 3'.) As this supposed twinning-plane has so complex a relation to the other planes of the crystal, it is probable that this coincidence is only accidental. A Optical properties.-Minute fragments of fairfieldite parallel to the two cleavage planes were examined in the stauroscope, with the following results:-The planes of light-vibration intersect the cleavage plane à (100) in lines which make angles of 40° and 50° respectively with the edge a b. One optical axis was visible on the edge of the field in converging light, obviously lying in the vibration-plane making an angle of 50° with the obtuse edge named, and toward that edge. The cleavage plane parallel to b (100) is intersected by the vibration planes fn lines making angles of 10° and 800 respectively with the edge ba. In this case also an optical axis (the second) is distinctly visible on the outer limit of the field. This serves to fix approximately the position of the bisectrix. As the cleavage fragments examined were less than 4 mm. in size, any further examination was impossible. Chemical Composition. The two varieties of fairfieldite have been analyzed by Mr. S. L. Penfield, with the following results: A. B. |