38t5 Scientific Intelligence — Mineralogy and Geology. 



the length of which at present we can form no distinct conception. 

 Mr Lyell also describes " the boulder formation on the borders of 

 Lakes Erie and Ontario, and in the valley of St Lawrence, as far 

 down as Quebec. Marine shells were observed in this drift, in se- 

 veral localities at Montreal, attaining a height probably exceeding 

 500 feet above the level of the sea. Similar shells were found as 

 far south as the western and eagtern shores of Lake Champlain. 

 They are all northern species, and imply a former colder climate. 

 Eocks in contact with the drift are smoothed and furrowed, as be- 

 neath the drift in Northern Europe." — Scotsman. 



6. Gold Mines in Ireland. — The origin of the discovery of gold 

 (in the county of Wicklow) is variously told. Tradition attributes it 

 to a schoolmaster, who, in consequence of his perpetually wandering 

 about the adjacent streams, was considered by his neighbours to be 

 insane. He grew gradually rich, however ; but at length the secret 

 of his wealth became known, and a similar madness seized the whole 

 population for many miles round the place where Nature had depo- 

 sited lier treasure. It does not appear that gold was found in any 

 quantity until the autumn of 1796, when " a man crossing a brook 

 found a piece in the stream, weighing about half an ounce." The 

 circumstance was noised abroad, and almost every river, stream, and 

 rivulet, for miles round the spot, was thronged by eager searchers 

 after wealth ; the news ran like wildfire through every district of the 

 country. Young and old, of both soxes, from the bed-ridden to the 

 babe that could scarcely crawl, were to be seen raking the gravel in 

 the waters, or pulling away the clay from the hill sides, washing it, 

 and peering into it for the " sparkles of golden splendour." Their 

 search was not unsuccessful : during the period which elapsed between 

 its commencement and the occupation of the place by troops stationed 

 there by Government — less than two months — it is conjectured that 

 2500 ounces of gold were collected by the peasantry, principally 

 from the mud and sand of Ballinavalley Stream, and disposed of for 

 about L. 1 0,000.— Ifrs S. C. HalVs " Ireland:' 



MINERALOGY. 



7. Large mass of Native Gold found in the Oural Mountains. 

 — ^Humboldt lately transmitted to the Academy of Sciences of Paris, 

 a notice by M. de Koscharoff, an officer of the Russian Mines, re- 

 garding a mass of gold of large size, recently found in the Oural. 

 The largest mass of native gold, which had previously been found 



