156 Oil the Discovery of Native Iron, 



hydrosulphuret of ammonia. No precipitate, nor change of co* 

 lour, was produced, though suffered to" remain for several days ; 

 which leads to the conclusion, that our mineral is unalloyed with 

 any metal. In this respect, therefore, it differs from the native 

 iron of Saxony, in which Klaproth found, lead 6.0, and copper 

 1.50. The iron being washed and heated, weighed 127 grains; 

 which being in the state of a peroxide, according to Mr Children, 

 indicated 88.90 metallic iron, or, according to Klaproth, 92.21 

 metallic iron. 



" To secure greater accuracy, the process was repeated with 

 50 grains of the mineral, from which were separated 3.50 grains 

 plumbago. The iron was precipitated as before ; and after being 

 heated, weighed 63 grains, which, according to Children, indi- 

 cated 44.10 metallic iron, or by Klaproth's rule 45.90." 



" Remarks by the Editor. — There can be no question that 

 the native iron above described is a genuine production of the 

 earth, and that it holds no connection with meteoric iron. The 

 mass bears the marks of a true metallic vein ; it has smooth 

 sides, and small specks of blue and white quartz are sticking in 

 it. Nickel, constantly found in the meteoric irons, is absent from 

 this specimen ; and if it. were a question whether native iron be 

 a true production of mines, this discovery decides it."" — Silli- 

 mati's Journal^ 1 827. 



General Observations in Natural History, made during a Jour- 

 ney among the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. By 

 M. R. P. Lesson. 



Xn this short itinerai'y, we only propose to give a summary 

 account of the animal productions which are peculiar to the 

 climate of New South Wales, a country so fertile in interesting 

 species, and so rich in animals still little known. The short 

 stay which we made at Port Jackson, does not permit us to en- 

 ter into extensive details on this subject, and we can only add 

 some gleanings to what has already been observed by preced- 

 ing travellers. The English, who have established a splendid 

 colony in this part of the globe, are excellently situated for 



