CAVENDISH BANANA. 267 



or even new elements. The task of analysing minerals on 

 the chance of their containing rare substances is not a very 

 enervating one. I have examined upwards of eighteen samples 

 of zinc blendes and many samples of pyrites from various parts 

 of the colonies, both chemically and spectroscopically, without 

 success. However, a few months ago, while making an 

 analysis and spectroscopic examination of a peculiar grey zinc 

 ore from the place already mentioned, I was rewarded by a 

 double : for by the spectroscope the characteristic line of 

 gallium, w,l. 4170, was easily discernible, and the Unes of 

 indium, w.l. 4509, 4101, were faint but unmistakable. Since 

 then I have, by operating on a larger quantity, succeeded in 

 extracting a small quantity of the crude chlorides of gallium 

 and indium, which from their properties leave no doubt that 

 the mineral contains these elements. As to the percentage 

 of gallium in the ore I am unable to state, but, judging from 

 the ease with which it is detected, I should say it contains at 

 least as much as the ore from Pierrefitte, in the Pyrenees, 

 in which M. Lecocq da Boisbaudin discovered the element, 

 (At present I am working up some kilos of the ore, and 

 before this note appears in the Journal I hope to be in a 

 position to definitely state the percentage of gallium.) 



In conclusion, as it may be of some interest, I give the 

 composition of the Peelwood ore : — 



Analysis of the Ore from Peehvood, New South Wales. 



SiO, 6-05 



Pb 16-71* 



Fe 11-06 



Cu 5-00 



Zn 29-77 



S 29-21 



Loss and matters not estimated 2-30 



100-00 



6.— THE ANALYSIS OF THE CAVENDISH BANANA 

 (MTJSA CAVENDISHII) IN RELATION TO ITS 

 VALUE AS FOOD. 



By W; M. DOHERTY, Assistant Government Analyst, 

 New South Wales. 



The value of the banana as a perfect food has been fre- 

 quently extolled, but so far as I can learn no analysis of the 



* With 11 or 12 ozs. of Silver to the ton. 



