.Votes on Shells. 38,3 



.No. 5. Iron ore from Moriah, Essex county, New- York. 



Character. Somewhat irised, or pavonine ; magnetic. 

 Sp. gr. 4.50 ; its powder black. This ore was treated in a 

 similar manner as No. 4 above, and proved to consist of 



Black oxide of iron - 88 50 or \ 0x ^ en " 20 2S 



(Iron - - G8 22 

 Silex - - - 6 00 



AJumine 3 00 88 50 



97 50 loss 2.50 

 With a trace of sulphur and a trace of manganese. 



Notes on Shells. By D. H. Barnes. 



No. II. 



[Read December 26, 1825. Continued from page 140.] 



The want of books is a great obstacle to the progress of 

 the student of natural history; for whatever new or curious 

 object he may discover, he cannot be sure that he will be safe 

 in publishing it, unless he has examined all the books in that 

 department. Many of these books in our country are not to 

 be obtained, and some that we have, are imperfect copies, de- 

 ficient in the important part of plates. Under these circum- 

 stances that we make any progress in natural science, is an 

 evidence of zeal and industry ; and these circumstances ought 

 to alleviate any censures which might otherwise be justly 

 charged upon us, when we publish as new, those things which 

 our more favored brethren abroad have previously discover- 

 ed, but of which discovery they have not communicated to us 

 the knowledge. Science is a republic in which every man 

 has a right to think and act for himself. If the decisions of 

 cm foreign friends appear to us just and reasonable, we shall 



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