HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



77 



but was so imbedded in the limestone that no idea 

 could be obtained of its crystalline form. The cal- 

 careous mass, however, being afterwards dissolved 

 by acid, the lump of metal was obtained perfectly 

 clean. It appeared to consist of an aggregated mass 

 of cubical faces, the stria; on which were very strongly 

 marked. On some of these faces was a decided 

 bevelment parallel with the striae, showing a distinct 

 approach to the pentagonal dodecahedron with which 

 crystallographers associate these markings when so 

 placed. 



Before leaving the quarry, I picked up a thin piece 

 of limestone crystallised on both sides, on the upper 

 surface of which was a single crystal of small size, 

 but of different form, imbedded amongst the crystals 

 of carbonate of lime. It was of a reddish colour, and 

 of adamantine lustre. Its whole appearance was so 

 different from that of the surrounding matrix that it 

 was impossible to overlook it, though it might be 

 termed even minute in size. From its position it 

 was difficult to make out the crystalline form, 

 although there were distinct facets. However, on 

 looking over the specimen with a strong lens, traces 

 of similar pieces could be perceived on the opposite 

 side, but more easily accessible. Strong muriatic 

 acid dissolved sufficient of the calcite to enable the 

 form of the reddish-coloured matter to be observed. 

 There were distinct indications of the faces of the 

 rhombic dodecahedron, though somewhat distorted, 

 and in a fragmentary piece, the cleavage in this 

 direction was well marked. This having given a 

 little help, I began to suspect what the substance 

 was, but it was necessary to apply the blowpipe test. 

 Lifting out a small portion with the forceps, I placed 

 it on charcoal in the oxydising flame. It became 

 white, and on applying a drop of nitrate of cobalt in 

 the reducing flame, a beautiful green colour resulted, 

 proving that the minute crystals were blende, or 

 sulphide of zinc. 



These few facts will go far to show how interesting 

 is the science of determinative mineralogy. The 

 substances met with in the localities mentioned are of 

 common occurrence, and their distinctive characters 

 easily mastered. The student's powers of exact 

 observation are greatly improved, and were such 

 branches of natural science more prominently taught 

 in our schools, young men starting to seek a career 

 in distant places, might have a new avenue to fortune 

 opened up by a knowledge of the common things 

 that lie on the surface of an apparently wild and 

 barren country. I hope, with the Editor's permission, 

 to contribute some further notes of mineralogical 

 excursions in various parts of the county of Dublin. 

 Dublin. W. McC. O'Neill. 



Experiments made by Pasteur and others, inocu- 

 lated with the virus of hydrophobia, have been so 

 far successful that twenty-three dogs were rendered 

 absolutely safe by the process. 



A PRE-HISTORIC CITY. 



PROFESSOR P. W. NORRIS, Assistant United 

 States Ethnologist, has recently discovered the 

 ruins of an ancient city, five miles in extent, in the 

 Kanacoha valley near the city of Charleston. The 

 Professor commenced his explorations of the ancient 

 mounds in August last, and has just completed them. 

 During the process of the excavation of these 

 mounds he has collected upwards of 4000 fine 

 specimens of various articles, which he intends to 

 place in the National Museum at Washington. 

 Seven of the mounds which he opened were from 

 twenty to thirty-five feet in height, and Trom 300 to 

 540 feet in circumference at the base. He opened 

 altogether fifty-six mounds in the Kanacoha valley. 

 The articles he procured consisted principally of 

 about thirty specimens of steatite and sandstone 

 pottery and pipes, many lance and arrow heads, 

 hatchets, fish-darts, celts, gorgets, hematite iron paint 

 hatchets and paint cups, several hundred pieces of 

 shell money, bone and horn punches used for dressing 

 the flint arrow heads into proper shape, twenty-one 

 bracelets made of copper, one copper breast plate, 

 copper crowns, and many copper heads. All the 

 copper was heavily coated with verdigris. In a mound 

 thirty-five feet high and 545 feet around its base was 

 a vault twelve feet square and ten feet high, the 

 walls of which had been supported by black walnut 

 timbers. In the centre of this vault, lying horizontally 

 on its back, was a giant skeleton, seven feet six inches 

 long, and measuring nineteen inches through the 

 breast under the arms. On each wrist were six large 

 copper bracelets, four of which had been enclosed in 

 cloth or dressed skin. Under the skull was a stone 

 lance head. There was a copper gorget upon the 

 breast with two holes in it. This gorget, which was 

 four inches square, is regarded as having been a 

 badge of authority. In the right hand was a 

 hematite iron hatchet having a four-inch blade. In 

 the left hand were several lance heads, six inches in 

 length, of flint manufacture. Leaning backwards in 

 a dark coffin, which stood somewhat standing from a 

 perpendicular position, was another skeleton, in such 

 a position in relation to the first as to let the left 

 hand extend over its head. On this left hand were 

 two copper bracelets. In the right hand were a 

 bunch of lance heads, similar to those of the giant. 

 In each corner of this vault was a warrior, enclosed 

 in his dark coffin, and standing nearly erect, with a 

 stone hatchet and lances in or near his hands. 

 Nearly one hundred various specimens of arms and 

 ornaments were found in this one vault. In another 

 mound the remains of a large sized warrior was 

 found lying flat on his back, with a copper crown 

 covering his head and neck, ornamented with sea-shell 

 and bone heads. On one side of this warrior lay five 

 others, with their feet all pointing towards him ; while, 

 the other side, were five women, as indicated by their 



