Scientific Intelligence — Geology and Mineralogy. 185 



Chumba and Bimber, is not at all improbable, and it is in that direc- 

 tion search should now be made. From what we have heard, there 

 is not a greater likelihood of good bituminous coal being found in the 

 Kangra valley than in the Dherah Dhoon, where small seams of lig- 

 nite are frequently to be met with in the sandstone associated with 

 the red and green marls. 



10. On the Silification of Plants and Animals. — The beautiful 

 manner in which silica has entered the interstices of vegetable mat- 

 ter, even shewing the succulent parts of plants which must have been 

 in a state of partial decay, is well known. We have the finest vege- 

 table tissues most perfectly pi'eserved by means of silica. It will be 

 in the recollection of the Society, that Doctor Mantell pointed out to 

 us in this i-oom, what he considered the soft parts of molluscs also pre- 

 served in silica. Yesterday only, I received a communication from 

 Mr Charlesworth, in which he informs me, that in a collection which 

 constitutes part of the well-known museum of Miss Benett of Wilt- 

 shire, he had found several examples of Trigonice with their branchise 

 well preserved in silica. As silica may have, and has filled up 

 cavities left by shells, thus giving us the most perfect representation 

 in silica of that which was once carbonate of lime, great care is of 

 course required, so that the mere filling up of the interior of univalve 

 and bivalve shells, before the matter of the shells themselves disap- 

 peared, or even when these are stiU left, be not taken for the pre- 

 served remains of the fleshy portions of the molluscs. We should 

 expect, in cases of real preservation, as in those of vegetables, that 

 the original tissue would be found by slicing in the usual manner. 

 Mr Charlesworth, who also forwarded a lithographic plate to appear 

 with descriptions, in the next number of his Geological Journal, 

 considers that in the specimens he notices, the fleshy parts of the 

 Trigonise are really silicified, and states that the silica has only pre- 

 served some of the soft parts, without filling the entire cavity of the 

 shell, and so that the filaments of the branchise have all the appear- 

 ance of an elaborate piece of dissection. Certainly the entire cavity 

 of the shell not being filled up, is very important, and as we find 

 that the tissue of succulent vegetables has been preserved in silica, 

 it may be fairly asked, why may not the fleshy parts of molluscs be 

 thus also preserved? — Sir Henry T. De la Beche, V.P.R.S., p. 98, 

 Aicniversary Sleeting, February 1848.* 



11. Reptilian Remains in the Coal Formation. — As regards 

 geological interest, one of the most remarkable palseontological dis- 

 coveries of the year has been that of a reptile skull by Von Dechen 

 in a nodule of ironstone from near Lebach, in the Saarbriick palseo- 



* liuch's observatious on the subject are interesting, and the papers in the 

 Werneriun Memoirs arc deserving of notice. — Ed. 



