176 : “Bibliography. : 
and Reary, to which I have reterredifand immediately recognized the 
deposit of Blyton Car to be analogous. Indeed, it is remarkable how 
closely the two descriptions coincide ; and it will b observed, that in 
both these cases, as well as in that from the Uni States, the pow- 
der was found under peat, and resisted the action of acids and of heat. 
He shortly afterwards procured a fresh supply from Lincolnshire, and 
submitted it to several friends; among others he requested me to ex- 
amine it closely, and communicate the result. The little acquaintance 
I had with the obscure, neglected, but pre-eminently beautiful and ex- 
traordinary tribe of the Conferve, showed me, on the first inspection 
of the powder, the high probability of its connexion with them; and 
a reference to some specimens in my own herbarium, and to magnified 
figures of others in the works of Greville, Sowerby, &c., soon con- 
vinced me that it was indeed the accumulated remains of myriads of 
these minute aquatic plants, purified by the decomposition of all 
their original vegetable matter, and effectually secured from contact 
with other impurities, by the superincumbent peat.” psy 
The article is concluded by an interesting account of the character 
and habits of the minute Conferve. -'The specimens described and 
figured by Mr. Bowman, are species of Diatoma, or allied genera— 
It has been somewhere remarked, or conjectured, that these deposits 
are perhaps confined to the region of primitive rocks, althoug ‘itis 
not easy to conceive any relation or connexion between these 
and the nature of the soil or rock where they are accum 
the manner of their occurrence in this case, and indeed on the 
pean continent generally, contradicts that supposition.* 
11. Chemical composition of cellular and woody tissue in plants.— 
That most accomplished vegetable anatomist, Mohl, of T! ingens 
has the merit of having satisfactorily ascertained that w 
woody tissue is not simple and homogenevus, but consists 0 
tary membrane, or cells, and a thickening or encrusting matter that 
possesses different properties. The subject has recently been taken 
up in France by M. Payen, whose memoir, said to be a beautiful sp 
cimen of chemico-physiological investigation, was read before the 
Academy of Sciences in December, 1838, and January, 1839. 
abstract of this memoir, and the report of M. Dumas on the subjech 
are published in the Annales des Sciences Naturelles, for January» 
ae 
emen- 
. This silicious deposit has been found under nearly every peat bog in this cour 
try which has yet been examined. Numerous specimens from various parts of this 
State (Conn.) have been brought to us. When itis calcined and washed it forms 4 
very good polishing powder for metals; and is now, under various feigned names, ©" 
tensively used for this purpose.—Eps. : 
