212 Scientific Intelligence — Geology. 



form. The 3d part is also in preparation, and will include 

 the Hemiptera, Orthoptera, and Lepidoptera ; the 4th will 

 contain the Neuroptera, and Hymenoptera ; the 5th, the very 

 numerous division of the Diptera : and the 6th and last will 

 contain the equally rich section of the Coleoptera. 



4. Notice regarding the Stone used in constructing the Temples 

 at Pcestum. — When at Paestum, on the 3d of June 1838, 1 ob- 

 served a fact regarding the travertine of which the splendid 

 Grecian temples there are constructed, which you may per- 

 haps think worth inserting in your Journal, and thus lead fu- 

 ture travellers to inquire into the cause of the phenomenon. — 

 We remarked, that the colour of the three temples was very 

 different, although they are all built of the same material, 

 (travertine or fresh-water limestone, containing imbedded 

 fresh-water shells) ; two of them being of a grey colour, 

 and the other, that usually known as the " Temple of Nep- 

 tune," of a rich yellowish-brown. On closer examination, 

 I found that this difference in the colour was caused by the two 

 former being covered with a grey crustaceous lichen, from 

 which the latter was perfectly free. I was for some time un- 

 able to account for this, when it struck me, that it might be 

 caused by the stone containing some matter inimical to vege- 

 tation ; and on applying a freshly broken piece to the tongue, 

 I perceived a distinctly saline taste. — I brought away speci- 

 mens of the stone from the different temples, which I gave for 

 examination to my friend Mr Kemp, who informs me, that after 

 reducing portions of it to powder and boiling it in distilled 

 water, he foimd, in a portion taken from one of the small- 

 er temples, no saline matter in solution; but in that froni 

 the largest, or the "Temple of Neptime," a considerable quan- 

 tity of muriate of lime. This fact accounts at once for the 

 absence of vegetation on that building. — It would be interest- 

 ing to ascertain whence this salt was derived, and I regret 

 much that we had not time to examine the spot wdiere are 

 said to be the ancient quarries, about two miles inland from 

 the ruins, an inspection of which might clear up this point. — 

 Letter from ff. C. Trevelyan, Esq. 



