312 Scientific Notices-^ Mineralogy, [Oct. 



extending in a broad spine ; abdomen 14 jointed, segments 

 recurved, falcate ; tail membranaceous and serrated. 



The remaining paper in the volume is the only one on Mine- 

 ralogy, entitled, " Observations on the Zinc Ores of Franklin 

 and Sterling, Sussex County, New Jersey." By G. Froost, MD. 

 p. 220. 



The first mineral described is a siliceous oxide of zinc, which 

 externally appeared to have undergone a partial fusion. It 

 agrees pretty well with the European species in the chemical 

 composition, but it presents the primitive form of a strait rectan- 

 gular four-sided prism, with a square base, or a cube. It only 

 differs from the analysis given by Klaproth in containing three 

 per cent, of oxide of manganese. Its specific gravity is ii'UB to 

 4*15. 



It also contains some Observations on the Red Oxide of 

 Zinc, on Jeffersonite, and on Carbonate of Zinc. 



It is with pleasure we observe the resjularity with which this 

 work appears, and the excellent manner in which it is conducted. 

 Considering that each of these volumes appears every six 

 months, it cannot but greatly illustrate the natural history of 

 America, to have such a number of species described, and their 

 habits made known, in that short space of time. 



Article XV. 

 SCIENTIFIC NOTICES. 

 Mineralogy. 

 1. Petrifactions of 3Iount Carmel. 



The Rev. Pliny Fisk, American Missionary to Jerusalem, 

 sent a quantity of Minerals from Palestine to Professor Hall, 

 who has described them in the American Journal of Science. 

 We copy a small portion of his paper: — 



In a letter to the writer, Mr. Fisk remarks, " I had heard 

 very often, that on one of the summits of Mount Carmel there 

 were very curious petrifactions of fruit. The Arabs said, there 

 were watermelons, and many sorts of smaller fruit, so perfect 

 that, at first sight, you would take them for actual fruit. In 

 my late journey from Jerusalem to this place, (Beyroot,) I 

 determined to investigate this matter ; and, with two Arabs who 

 knew, or at least pretended to know, where the watermelons 

 were to be found, I ascended the mountain. We found no 

 watermelons, but we found, in the mountain which is formed of 

 calcareous stone, some very curious formations, of which I 

 tend you several samples. I am not surprised that the ignorant 

 Arabs should have mistaken them for petrified fruit.'* 



