i8g6. ENGLISH AMBER AND AMBER GENERALLY. 163 



illustrate this process of clarifying very well. There are, for instance, 

 in the possession of Mrs. A. Fox and Mr. W. George Sandford at 

 Cromer, specimens, one half of each of which is dull and opaque, while 

 the other is quite clear. In the liquid state the resin ran over the 

 bark and formed successively thin lamellae, called Schlanhen in 

 German. At this time little animals might pass over it, and small 

 leaves, flowers, or other things might be blown against it by the 

 wind ; these becoming attached would be enclosed by the next flow. 

 The chief animal remains consist of insects, particularly of Diptera 

 and Coleoptera ; however, there are also a good many arachnids, a 

 few crustaceans, annelids, and shells of snails. Moreover, small 



Fig. I. — Examples of Amber. 

 A, Amber drop ; b, Amber stalactite ; c, Amber stalagmite. (Original.) 



-feathers of birds and hairs of various mammals have been found in 

 amber. Thus, in general, remains of many plants and animals of 

 that period are enclosed in the resin of the succiniferous trees, and are 

 preserved to these days in their transparent grave. Therefore, this 

 Icind of succinite is of the greatest importance in the examination of 

 the flora and fauna of the oldest Tertiary, and such pieces are much 

 sought after in the trade. In England I know many Schlanhen 

 without enclosures, and Mr. Reid has given me a small specimen 

 from Cromer ; but such pieces of English succinite containing the re- 

 mains of plants and insects are also well known. Mr. Alfred S. Foord 



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