GEOLOGY. 283 



stated to have been found in a white, fine sandstone grit, but their 

 nature is not specified, except that remains of some kinds of Pecop- 

 teris and Sphenopkyllum were mentioned, but the species are not 

 named. 



In the south and south-west regions of the Middle Island, Mr. Wal- 

 ter Mantell, in an arduous exploration for three months, as government 

 Surveyor in the almost uninhabited and dreary tracts of that country, 

 kept up an active search for the rare indigenous birds, and for fossils ; 

 but with the exception of a large parrot, believed to be unknown to 

 naturalists, no additions were made to the fauna of New Zealand. A 

 diligent hunt for vestiges of the Moas, and for a live specimen of 

 Kbtornis, was unattended w r ith success. The last accounts from Mr. 

 Mautell stated that the servants he had sent out to the localities which 

 native traditions pointed out as the habitat of the Kbtornis, had 

 returned birdless, and reported that the wild dogs occupied the country 

 to such a degree, that it was hopeless to expect the wingless birds could 

 escape. The stuffed specimen of Notornis in Dr. Mantell's possession 

 (in London,) bids fair, therefore, like the last of the Dodos, to be the 

 sole representative of its race. 



MINNESOTA SALT REGION. 



PROBABLY there is not a richer salt region on the face of the earth, 

 than the one in Minnesota. The territory" is generally supposed to be 

 valuable for its agricultural resources alone ; nothing, however, can be 

 more erroneous. True, its natural agricultural wealth is probably 

 second to none in the Mississippi valley, but its mineral wealth is not 

 less extensive and valuable. Among the latter, its salt stands pre- 

 eminent. The region lies between 47 and 49 north latitude, and 

 97 and 99 west longitude. Its exact locality was ascertained and 

 defined by an expedition sent out from Fort Snelling, by Major Long, 

 in 1822 - 3. A description of that salt region, together with its local- 

 ity, will be found in the Topographical department at Washington. 



Our first information of that salt /egion was from a soldier in the 

 expedition. He says that they had been travelling for several days 

 over a vast rolling plain, with no trees or water; the troops and horses 

 were almost famishing with thirst, when they came suddenly upon the 

 shore of a beautiful lake, about half a mile in diameter, sunk down 

 deep in the plain. It resembles more a vast sink hole. From the 

 height above the waters a vast snow bank appeared to line its shore, 

 but upon examination it proved to be an incrustation of salt as pure 

 and as white as snow. The waters of the lake were like the strongest 

 brine. So strong was it that one bathing in it, upon coming out, in a 

 few minutes would be covered with the white crystallization of salt. 



If this salt region be as rich as it is supposed to be, a railroad pro- 

 jected into it would prove to be the best stock in the country. There 

 are mines of undeveloped wealth more extensive, more durable, and 

 more important than all the gold regions beyond the Rocky Mountains. 

 We are informed also, that a very short distance below the surface the 

 25 



