4 JOURNAL OF THE 
excellent. I am told that abundant large jelly-fish and 
Portuguese men-of-war make their appearance in August 
and September. rah 
The sea-beach has a very gentle slope, and judging in 
part from specimens sent me by. Mr. Chas. M. Whitlock, 
of Wilmington, many things of interest are to be had just 
beyond the line of breakers, where the sea is frequently 
caJm enough to permit collecting. In the main the 
Wrightsville fauna is evidently very similar to that of 
Beaufort (see the lists in Studies of Biol. Lab. Johns Hop- 
kins Univ., Vol. IV., No. 2, and the list of annelids by 
Professor Andrews, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. XIV,, 
No. 852). I may add that some of the local collectors 
would recognize, froma description, many of the striking 
forms, such as Chacloplerus, Chalina arbuscula, Lepto- 
gorgia virgulata, all of which may be had here.’ 
1From Science N. S., Vol. VI. No. 135. July.30, 1897. 
(CONTRIBUTIONS TO THI CHEMISTRY OF ZIRCONIUM. NO. 6.) 
THE OXALATES OF ZIRCONIUM. 
BY F. P. VENABLE AND CHARLES BASKERVILLE. 
The text-books of chemistry make either very little or 
no reference to the oxalates of zirconium. Beyond an 
occasional reference to the oxalate or basic oxalate gotten 
by precipitating oxalic acid or an oxalate, we can find lit- 
tle mention of these compounds. Behrens, in his micro- 
chemical work, speaks of an oxalate prepared as colorless 
pyramids by precipitating a solution of zirconium sulphate 
with potassium binoxalate, but no analyses are given, and 
the crystals cceuld scarcely have been the pure oxalate. 
Paykull’ speaks of double oxalates being prepared with 
