E. MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY. 211 



atiire influencing geographical distribution of vegetation a 

 difference in +, equal to about 5 of latitude for the tertiary 

 and cretaceous epochs. 7. The same kind of observations on 

 the geographical distribution of vegetable species shows, at 

 the tertiary and cretaceous times, a difference of temperature, 

 accordinir to latitude, analoscous to what is indicated at our 

 time by the characters of the Northern and Southern vege- 

 tation. 13 A, October 1, 375. 



IROX BEDS IX AUSTRALIA. 



Amonof recent discoveries of valuable minerals in Austra- 

 lia is that of iron, in the form of magnetic iron, and brown 

 hematite at Wallerawang, Victoria, in close proximity to 

 limestone, fire-clay, coal, and a railway station. 3 A^ October 



18,1873,484. 



BORINGS IX THE SUB-W^EALDEX OF EXGLAXD. 



For some time past an important enterprise has been car- 

 ried on in the interest of geological science in the formation 

 known as sub-Wealden, the object being to determine the 

 existence of coal at any depth, so as to reach the paleozoic 

 rocks. The borings commenced about 250 feet down in the 

 known Purbeck beds, and on the 1st of September they had 

 reached a depth of 294 feet. The bore was at first nine inches 

 in diameter, and cuts only on the outer edge, leaving a core, 

 which is frequently extracted by the tube. It is proposed to 

 prosecute this boring to the depth of 2000 feet if necessary. 

 18 A^ October 3, 1873, 61. 



RUSSIAX MINERAL PHOSPHATES. 



From the translation of an article in the Journcil of Prac- 

 ticed Agriculture^ we are informed of the recent development 

 of vast beds of phosphate of lime that hav-e of late years at- 

 tracted attention in Central Russia. Tlie geologists who 

 explored that country in the first half of the present century 

 remarked the presence of an uncrystallized stone which some 

 of their most eminent men called a ferrusjinous mineral. It 

 was only in 1858 that the first analysis of it was made by 

 Professor Chodnef, at St. Petersburg, who showed that it 

 contained a very large per cent, of phosphate of lime and 

 magnesia. In 1866, Professor Engelhart, of St. Petersburg, 



