290 Scientific Intelligence. 
, stances it is generally in drift-beds. The supposition, however, that it 
belongs to the Drift-period is difficult to substantiate, the flora of that 
period being as yet but little known. e stomach of the fossil Mas- 
todon found in New Jersey contained twigs of Thuja. occidentalis 
(found in the Amber-flora) ; and in the Erie Canal in New York State, 
at a depth of 118 feet there have been found freshwater shells, together 
with portions of Abies Canadensis, which still grows in the neigh- 
borhood, and leaves of which are still recognised (though with some 
doubt) in the amber. The fossil wood of the Drift-beds of Siberia, 
succinifer), as Professor Goeppert formerly thought, but also from 
eight other species, including the Pinus Rinkianus, in which Vaupelt 
observed the amber of Disco Island. 
It is probable that all the Abietinee, and perhaps the Cupressinee, 
have furnished their share of the resinous matter (at first consisting 0 
various specifically different resins) that afterwards by fossilization be- 
comes amber ; and this is supported by the author’s experiments in the 
formation of amber from resin by the wet process, as in his experl- 
ments on the formation of coal from recent plants.t : 
In form the amber is either like drops, indicative of a former semi- 
fluid condition, or as the casts of resin-ducts and cavities. Large nod- 
ular masses occur, which must have been accumulated in the lower 
part of the stem or the root, as in the Copal trees.—( Quarterly Jour- 
nal of the Geological Society, vol. x, No. 37.) 
IV. Astronomy. 
1. New Comet, (Gould’s Astron. Journal, Aug. 11.)—A comet was 
discovered by Klinkerfues, at Gottingen, June 4, 1854. The follow- 
ing elements of its orbit were furnished by Prof. R. Keith, of the Wash- 
ington Observatory, from observations at Bonn, June 11, and Washing- 
ton June 26 and July 11. 
Perihelion passage, 1854, June 21-7751. 
Longitude of perihelion, . - 273° 6! 52-4 ) Mean eqx. 
“ “ ase 40 8 0 ; 1854-0 
Inclination, - - - - - Jl 18 46-0 
Log. cos. 9, « : : : 8°6357 14. 
hk Cee 
Motion etrograde. 
2. Orbital Elements of Bellona and Amphitrite, (Comptes Rendus, 
June 19, 1854.)—The fo lowing elements of the new planets Bellona 
and Amphitrite are computed by M. Oudemans, of the Observatory of 
* See Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. vi, Part 2. . Miscell. p, 66—TRaxst. 
+ Ibid, p. 33.—Transt. 
