1824.] Neto Scientific Books. 317 



be cleaved parallel to the terminal planes, but imperfectly, if at all, 

 parallel to the lateral planes, or to the diagonals of the prism; their 

 colour is a very pale dull-yellow ; they occur in cavities, with crystal- 

 lized black mica, and with another substance not yet examined; the 

 mass to which they adhere appears to be nearly all Somervillite, inter- 

 mingled with black mica. 



This substance might at first view be mistaken for idocrase ; but it is 

 much softer ; the cleavage parallel to the terminal planes much more 

 distinct, and the cross fracture more glossy. Mr. Children has also 

 compared the characters of this mineral under the blowpipe with those 

 of idocrase. When exposed alone in the forceps, it slightly decrepi- 

 tates, which idocrase does not, and fuses, with greater difficulty than 

 idocrase, into a greyish glass, the globule from idocrase being greenish. 

 With borax, in the reducing flame, idocrase produces a light-green, 

 and this a colourless glass. 



Mr. Brooke has likewise examined the mineral called hipferschaum 

 by the Germans, of which he had not met with any analysis. This 

 mineral, which is the same as the fibrous or flaky bright-green substance 

 found at Matlock, appears to be a carbonate of copper and zinc. — 

 (Institution Journal, xvi. 274?.) 



V. Death of Mr. Botvdich, in Africa. 



It is with unfeigned regret that we announce the death of this enter- 

 prising and accomplished traveller : he has fallen a victim to his over 

 exertions in surveying St. Mary's River, in Gambia : he expired, 

 after lingering a fortnight, on the 10th of January, leaving a widow 

 and three children totally unprovided for. We are happy to learn that 

 proposals will shortly be issued for publishing, for their benefit, Mr. 

 Bowdich's " Excursions in Madeira and Porto Santo," a work which 

 he had completed prior to his decease. 



Article XVIII. 

 NEW SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 



PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION. 



Elements of Physiology, by J. Bostock, MD. is nearly ready. 



Capt. Sir Henry Heathcote, RN. has in the press, a Treatise on 

 Staysails for the Purpose of intercepting Wind between the Square 

 Sails of Ships and other Square-rigged Vessels : illustrated by suitable 

 Diagrams, and Plates. 



A Treatise on the Nature, Symptoms, and Cure of Cataract ; by 

 John Stevenson, FRCS. 8vo. 



A Treatise on Mineralogy, by Frederick Mohs ; translated from the 

 German by W. Haidinger. 2 vols, post Svo. 



Extracts from a Journal written on the Coasts of Chili, Peru, and 

 Mexico, in the Years 1820, 1821, and 1822 ■ by Capt. Basil Hall, RN. 

 Author of a Voyage to Loo Choo. 2 vols, post 8vo. 



