Museum News. 



*COMPOSITION OF THE As 



Silica (insoluble sand) 



Oxide o Iro i (FcsOs) 



Alumina (AloO...) 



Lime (CaO) 



Magnesia (MgO) 



Sulphuric Acid (combined SO;. 



*Unestimated . . 



269 



Per Cent. 



2*4 

 8.2 

 2.1 



2.3 

 I.I 



5.8 

 2.9 



24-8 



The analyses were carried to two places of decimals, but 

 as such detail is of little value except in critical determinations, 

 I have shown only the nearest figure in the first decimal place. 



The total Chlorine, calculated to Sodium Chloride, is shown 

 in the general analysis, because practically the whole of this 

 was volatilized at the temperature of ignition, preparatory to 

 examining the ash. 



The siliceous matter has the character of sand, and shows 

 no evidence of diatomaceous structure on microscopic examina- 

 tion. 



The sixty-third report of the museum, etc., at Ipswich has been received, 

 and contains details of many valuable additions, including several pur- 

 chased by the Felix Cobbold bequest. Mr. J. R. JMoir has assisted in the 

 re- arrangement of the prehistoric implements. The Curator gives a 

 list of the collections which are packed away, awaiting the provision of 

 proper exhibition cases. During the year an appeal was made for £100 

 to purchase a collection of heads of African Big Game, and the amount 

 was collected in ten days. 



The annual report of the Perthshire Natural History Museum includes 

 details of the work' accomplished during the year, as well as a list of the 

 additions. These are arranged under the heads of ]\Iammals, Birds, 

 Fishes, Invertebrates, Botany, Geology, and Lantern Slides. There 

 is also the usual meteorological report, carefully compiled by the Curator, 

 Mr. Rodger. Among the botanical specimens, we are not quite sure 

 whether ' Lizzie ' is the name of an oak tree, like the ' female leech ' in the 

 play, or whether it is a name cut on the bark. 



The Guide to the Museum of Fisheries and Shipping, Hull, has just been 

 published. The guide, which is the 87th publication issued by the Museums, 

 has been written by ^Ir. Sheppard, and contains an interesting introduction 

 to the collection, with special reference to the objects relating to the whaling 

 days. Then follow particulars of the live hundred and eighty-nine exhibits 

 in the collection, the number of which is increasing almost daily. They 

 include specimens ranging in size from small marine organisms preserved 

 in spirits, to models of fishing appliances, several feet in length, Esquimaux 

 canoes, and skeletons of whales. Though the collection has been on view 

 a very short time, the building seems to contain quite as much as it can 

 comfortably hold, while on occasions such as Bank Holidays and Sundays, 

 there is hardly accommodation for the crowds that visit it. The Guide 

 is well illustrated by photographs and sketches, contains 48 pages, and is 

 sold at one penny. 



* Alkali metals, traces of Phosphoric Acid, Chlorine, Carbonic .\cid. 

 .1912 Sept. I. 



