190 



'Miscellanies, 



The Geology of tliese regions of desolation, and also of Cape 

 Horn, has been examined by the genilemen of the expedition, and 

 numerous and ample specimens have been forwarded to England. 

 From tlic further communications which may be expected on this 

 subject, a complete account may be looked for, of tlie geological for- 

 mations, and of tlie minerals and rocks. Extensive beds of graphite 

 were found in Staten Land. 



Tlie objects of the voyage being mathematical and philosophical, 

 tlie necessary facilities for investigations in natural history were not at 

 hand, and the success in tliat departrnent did not correspond vi4th the 

 diligence and industry with which they were prosecuted. Many 

 prepared specimens of birds were lost, for want of convenient room 

 to dry them. The peculiar structure of tlie penguin, and the strange 

 anatomy of the sea leopard, or leopardine seal, attracted particular 

 notice. The surprising peculiarity of the penguin is its jugular veins, 

 which are stated to be two inches in diameter j and a venous sinus 

 extending from the right to tlie left hypochondrium of the sea leop- 

 ard, of seventeen inches in diameter, although without parallel, and 

 seemingly incredible, is asserted by Capt. Webster as an unquestion- 

 able fact. 



4. Gold and Platina.—^Aa account is quoted in the Annals of 

 Philosophy, from a Prussian Journal from which it appears tliat rich 

 beds of Platiniferous sands have been recently discovered " tlirough- 

 out the western branch of the Uralian raouniains. Banks of green- 

 ish gray argillaceous sand, varying from two and a half to five feet in 

 thickness, lie near the surface under a covering of turf and contain 

 _ from one to tliree pounds of metal in three thousand and seven hun- 

 dred pounds of sand. 



The asiatic side of the mountains is rich in gold. Documents 

 supplied by Professor Fuchs, show that from the beginning of sum- 

 mer to tlie month of August in the same year, seven thousand seven 

 hundred and ninety two workmen were employed in the gold wash- 

 ing, and tliat they procured fQurteen hundred and sixty pounds of 

 pure gold. From the first of May to the first of October, two thou- 

 sand eight hundred and twenty four pounds and some ounces of gold 

 w^ere obtained from about two hundred and seventy thousand times 

 its weight of sand.; masses of gold occurs frequently but a few inch- 

 es under the grass. 



