NATUEAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 121 



very greatlj magnified. Thej vary somewhat in size, and the orange-colored 

 ones are most numerous in the specimen before me. There is ft cloudiness in 

 these yellow globules and a few are not completely spherical, presenting a 

 cup-shaped form. To the naked eye the green globules appear to be black, 

 but under the microscope they are evidently dark green. The composition of 

 the two sets are no doubt the same, and the color probably depends on their 

 being in a different state of oxidation. In a few cases I observed the two 

 colors in the same globule. In another specimen from the same locality I 

 found the globules to be much smaller and the green ones to prevail.* 



Fig. 13. An Asteriated Sapphire, also belonging to Dr. Le Conte, of an obtuse 

 conical form, and of unusual beauty, presented very remarkable microscopic 

 crystals of a white silken hue. The larger of two sets were generally, though 

 not always, cuneate and lay in three directions, differing somewhat in size. 

 In the smaller set the crystals are very minute, having the same pure white, 

 silken appearance. These fill up the interstices of the larger crystals. 



A Sapphire of large size and peculiar beauty, in the possession of Dr. Le 

 Conte, presented a few distant, white silk-like lines, running in one direction, 

 and parallel to each other. It is of unusual brilliancy and fine color and is 

 thirteen-twentieths by eleven-twentieths of an inch in size. 



Fig. 14. A Pyrope from New Mexico, in which the microscopic crystals differ 

 from any of the many Garnets I have examined. In other specimens from this 

 locality — of which I have examined twenty in the collections of Prof. Frazer 

 and Dr. Le Conte — acicular crystals alone were found. In this specimen the 

 crystals are much larger, less in number and of an entirely different character. 

 Some are geniculate and transparent, while some are dark or semi-transparent. 

 A very short and rather thick crystal seems to present three sides of an hex- 

 agonal prism. These New Mexican Pyropes are of uncommon beauty and per- 

 fection. This specimen is in the collection of Prof. Frazer. His other seven 

 specimens have acicular crystals. Of Dr. Le Conte's twelve specimens, six 

 had acicular crystals, and six presented no appearance of inclusions. "When 

 the acicular crystals are examined in the direct rays of the sun at right angles 

 to their axis, they reflect all the spectral colors in a very beautiful manner. 



A small brilliant Ruby, which has the appearance of being oriental, but which 

 may be a Spinel Ruby, was found to be very full of long acicular crystals 

 which were observed to be in all directions, and were to all appearances 

 the same as observed in Precious Garnets. A larger specimen has the same 

 kind of acicular crystals, but in this specimen these crystals take generally 

 two directions and are oblique to each other. 



Two out of four other very beautiful small Oriental Rubies = Sapphire were 

 found to have very minute acicular crystals. In one of them these crystals 

 were in three directions; in the other they were in two directions. Both these 

 gave that peculiar changable band observed in the " Catseye " Sapphires. All 

 these rubies were cut as brilliants and were of great beauty. 



It is apparent that the microscopic crystals in the various minerals above 

 described, cannot all be of the same substance. Their forms and appearance 

 forbid that, and chemical analysis will never probably reach, with any degree 

 of satisfaction, their ultimate constituents. Spectral analysis may, however, 

 be able to give us some results when properly applied, which may in some 

 measure satisfy us in regard to the composition of these interesting included 

 microscopic crystals. 



Sexual Law in the CONIFER.^. 

 BY THOMAS MEEHAN. 

 In some various papers last year before this and other bodies, I was able to 

 prove, I believe, to the satisfaction of my fellow botanists, that the true leaves 



* The Amethysts of Chester County, Penna., very frequently have minute acicular crys- 

 tals of Rutile. 



1869.] 



