THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 67 



yi-yi-vnch. long. Bracts about ^-inch long. Calyx measuring 

 about ^-inch in length. Petals to fully i inch long ; the two 

 lowest white except near the summit, producing a singular con- 

 trast in the colouration of the whole flower. Style as long as the 

 stamens. Fruit about ^5 -inch long. 



A highly ornamental plant, in its affinity nearest to P. leucantha, 

 but with very much larger flowers, in which respect it surpasses 

 all its numerous congeners. 



A NEW METHOD FOR THE EXTRACTION OF 

 FRIABLE FOSSILS. 



In the Compte- Rendu of the Geological Society of France, 7th 

 May, 1894, M. Charles Janet gives an ingenious method for the 

 preservation and extraction of decomposed fossils in sandy strata. 

 The beds at which he was working contained a great number of 

 Turritellas, which were decomposed to a very friable condition, 

 so that their extraction was impossible. He says that he obtained 

 sufficient consolidation by pouring a fairly large quantity of boiled 

 water over the rock in situ. The water was very slightly acidulated 

 with sulphuric acid, and saturated with sulphate of lime. The 

 sulphuric acid changed the carbonate of lime into the sulphate, 

 and as the water, having been recently boiled, had no gas in 

 solution, the relatively small amount of carbonic acid liberated in 

 the process was readily dissolved. As, moreover, the water was 

 already saturated with sulphate of lime, no more could be taken 

 up. The fossils were superficially transformed into gypsum, and 

 were then firm enough to be released by simply washing the sand. 

 As M. Janet points out, this process of transformation of shells 

 into gypsum takes place in nature under certain conditions, the 

 sulphuric acid being produced by the decomposition of pyrite. 

 The chief requisites for success seem to be very dilute acid and 

 a fair length of time for the operation. 



T. S. H. 



ARTICLES OF INTEREST TO VICTORIAN NATURAL- 

 ISTS IN RECENT PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. 



In '' Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia" 

 vol. xix., part i : — 



" Correlation of the Marine Tertiaries of Australia," part 2 

 (Victoria continued), by Prof. R. Tate, F.G.S., and J. 

 Dennant, F.G.S. Contains special notes on the Eocene 

 beds at Cape Otway and River Aire, with lists of species 

 and numerous illustrations. 



