210 [December, 



actions show that it is neither tin nor any other known element, although it has 

 some relations to tin, but it is distinguished from it 



1. By its solubility in nitric acid. 



2. By its brown precipitate with hydrosulphuric acid. 



3. By not being regularly oxydized before the blowpipe into a white 



Oxide, and by its other blowpipe-reactions. 

 May not the grains of native tin observed by Hermann in the auriferous sands 

 from Siberia be the same substance ? 



II. An examination of the white grains which were insoluble in hydrochloric 

 acidj gave (after a few scales of native gold had been extracted by quite diluted 

 aqua regia) the following results. 



Of 0-9366 grms. were 0-4625 grms. or 49-4 p. c. Sisserskite (Ir Os4 ) in 

 brilliant lead colored scales, some of which were imperfect six-sided prisms. 



The remaining grains and scales (0-4741 grms.) had a tin-white color, and 

 were treated with aqua regia, as long as it acted upon them. Three rounded 

 grains remained undissolved in aqua regia, which^ I suppose, were Platin-Iridium. 

 They weighed 0-0202 grs.=2-2 p. c. 



The balance of 0-4539 grms. or 48-4 p. c. were native Platinum. 

 The composition of the sample received by Dr. Chas. M. Wetherill was there- 

 fore New Element and gold not estimated. 



Sisserskite == 49-4 p. c. 



Platin-Iridium = 2-2 p. c. 



Native Platinum =48-4p. c. 



This native Platinum is not pure, but contains, like that from other localities, 

 other substances, both alloyed and mechanically mixed with it. 



When the 0.4539 grms. were dissolved in aqua regia, 0-0031 grms. or 0.68 p. c. 

 of Sisserskite remained undissolved in minute and fine scales. 



The solution was evaporated to dryness in a water-bath, dissolved in alcohol and 

 precipitated with chloride of ammonium. The brick-red double salt thus formed 

 was washed out with alcohol, then dried and powerfully healed. The ignited 

 residue weighed 0-4206 grms. It was treated with weak aqua regia, which left 

 undissolved O-OllO grms. of Iridium and Rhodium = 2-42 p. c. (This is of 

 course only an approximate estimation of Iridium, etc.) This presence of 

 Rhodium and Palladium was also ascertained, but I did not make any quantita- 

 tive estimations, because the quantity I had to dispose of was entirely too small 

 for the estimation of substances which can be separated only with the greatest 

 difficulty. 



The filtrate from the double salts of Platinum, etc., precipitated by ammonia 

 gave 0-0432 grms. of sexqui-oxide of iron = 6-66 p. c. of iron. 

 The composition of this native Platinum is therefore 



Platinum, (with Palladium) = 90-24 

 Iridium, (with Rhodium) = 2-42 

 Iron, = 6-66 



Sisserskite, = 0-68 



100-00 



The Committee on a paper by Dr. P. E. Hoy, *' On new Species of 

 Owls/' reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 



Description of two species of Owls, presumed to he new, which inhabit the State of 



Wisconsin. 

 By Philo R. Hoy, M. D., Racine, "Wisconsin. 

 1. Nyctale Kirtlandii, nobis. 

 The smallest described species of this genus. 



Male. Length 6}, ext. 10, tail extends to the tip of the folded wing. Head 

 and entire upper parts brown with a reddish gloss. Plumage around the base 

 of the tail and eyebrows white, immediately in front of the eye, intermingled 



