M. Miiller on Substances inclosed in Mochastones. 417 



stances may also become black under its influence. One circum- 

 stance indeed goes far to prove their vegetable nature, namely, that 

 those portions of the mineral, whether it be chalcedony or quartz, 

 where the bodies are exposed, do not admit of being polished, but 

 being stained by the polishing-oil always remain tarnished. 



§ 4. On the Inclosed Bodies themselves. 



The number will probably be found considerable, when they 

 shall have been rescued from the curiosity- drawer and have been 

 observed and described. Something complete can be expected 

 only from the labours of many. It is to be wished, for instance, 

 that the botanists about Oberstein would turn their attention to 

 this subject, where of a certainty many a treasure is thrown away 

 as useless amongst the chips which are made by the agate- 

 grinders. 



I was permitted to examine a large quantity of inclosed sub- 

 stances, and what I discovered amongst them will for the most 

 part appear from what follows. 



1. Intricate deposits of different colours, mostly black or red- 

 brown. They are very frequent, and resemble, under the micro- 

 scope, mould ; that is, they are compressed, transparent, without 

 distinct cellular structure adhering after the manner of vegetables, 

 and plainly converted into coal. 



Since other vegetable substances frequently accompany these, 

 it is clear that they are really mould which was formed before the 

 mineral had received its present physical form. Found at Ober- 

 stein. 



2. A moss in fructification. It was surrounded by such a mass 

 of mould that it was impossible to discover anything accurately 

 as to its structure, or to come to the least decision as to its genus. 

 The capsule had the form of that of a Hypnum. The peristome 

 was not present. 



The fact however is of importance as a weighty argument against 

 the devotees of sports of nature. Found at Oberstein. 



3. In a bright, clouded chalcedony, in which traces of water 

 were still visible, fragments of a Char a occurred. They consisted of 

 fine, much-branched, glaucous' green stems entangled with one 

 another, and among which some branches occurred which were 

 incrusted as if with lime. I could not discover any whirled frag- 

 ments. The occurrence of water in chalcedony was interesting, 

 which was confirmed by the late Prof. Zenker. Found atOberstein. 



In another reddish chalcedony I found a great mass of erect 

 stems disposed with exceeding regularity. They were almost all 

 in the same position, quite simple, and strongly incrusted with 

 lime (?). The upper surface of the stone, where they were ex- 

 posed to view, was sprinkled with black dots, which is very na- 



