l64 NATURAL SCIENCE. September. 



has published in the Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' 

 Society (vol. v., part i., pp. 92-95) a paper on such a collection, 

 belonging to Mrs. Burwood, of Yarmouth, and he has figured therein 

 an undetermined leaf as well as bees, beetles, flies, gnats, and spiders. 

 Twelve years ago Mr. C. Reid mentioned some Diptera and spiders, 

 determined by Mr. G. H. Verral, in his aforesaid paper [op. cit., 

 vol. iii., pp. 601-3). Although I have not been able to see these little 

 collections, I believe that they consist of real succinite, and not of 

 another kind of resin. I saw in the shop of Mrs. A. Fox, at Cromer, 

 three pieces of succinite with dipterous insects belonging to the genera 

 Platyura and Xiphandrinm (?), according to the determination of 

 Mr. Verral {op. cit., vol. iv., pp. 247-8). 



Further, it might happen that the resin in clarifying did not 

 form lamellae upon the bark of the trees, but flowed freely down and 

 formed stalactites, hanging perpendicularly from the branches and 

 twigs (Fig. I, b). In continuation new flows could run over it, where- 

 fore larger pieces show always a concentric structure. Just as in the 

 case of the Schlaiiben, of course these objects may often enclose 

 small organic remains, especially gnats and other little insects. If the 

 resin dropped down from the stalactites to a lower branch or to the 

 earth, small stalagmites could arise here, corresponding to those, and 

 gradually increase in size (Fig. i, c). 



In general, much resin ran downward and mingled with dead 

 organic remains which covered the ground of the amber forest ; for 

 instance, small particles of the destroyed woods of fallen trees, various 

 wing-cases, and dung-pellets of insects. In such a manner there 

 were formed upon the ground irregular pieces of succinite, which 

 certainly are of scientific interest, but do not possess any notable 

 value in commerce, for these pieces are only used for preparing 

 varnish, and are, therefore, called shortly " Varnish " (Firniss). Also in 

 England " Varnish" occurs, and I remember seeing two yellow pieces 

 of it with particles of wood from Felixstowe, in the possession of 

 Mr. Henry Miller, of Ipswich. 



It is true the greatest quantities of succinite would be outside 

 the trees, but an instance exists of pieces of succinite being formed in 

 the interior of the wood. It was stated before that sometimes 

 a tissue of parenchymatous cells abnormally appeared between the 

 egular tissue of tracheids, and was dissolved afterwards into resin. 

 If it happened that these closed reservoirs did not become opened by 

 a fracture of the wood, the resin would become hardened and remain 

 in the interior for ever. Long after death, when the wood was 

 destroyed by the action of fungi and insects, those large pieces of 

 succinite would become liberated. As they were formed in the 

 interior, mixed with cell-sap, they look muddy and opaque, and they 

 do not enclose any remains of insects or other organisms. They are 

 called Plates (Platten), on account of the tabular shape, and yield a 

 very valuable article for working. 



