144 Correspondence— J. B. Scrivenor. 



interesting, therefore, to note that although, these New Guinea 

 localities are so widely separated, heing probably some 600 miles 

 apart, there is distinct palseontological proof that the limestones of 

 both regions belong to the later Aquitanian stage of the Miocene 

 epoch. It becomes increasingly difficult for the palaeontologist to 

 keep pace with the vast amount of literature which is issued on 

 almost every branch of his subject, a condition of things which at 

 the present time is more than ever accentuated on account of the 

 Geological Society having discontinued the publication of their 

 annual list of "Geological Literature", which has been of such 

 inestimable service to all research workers in geological science. 



It. Bcxlen Newton. 



British Museum (Nat. Hist.), 

 South Kensington. 



FEDERATED MALAY STATES. 



Sir, — Owing to the fact that copies of the Geological Society's 

 Proceedings have not been sent to me while residing abroad I have 

 only just been made aware, by the appearance of No. 284 of the 

 Quarterly Journal, that my name was unnecessarily introduced into 

 the Discussion on a paper read on June 23, 1915, p. 622 (but only now 

 printed and issued to Fellows, in February, 1917). The speaker, 

 Mr. "W. 11. Jones, said that: — 



' ' The danger of examining ' mountains under microscopes ' was illustrated 

 in a striking manner, in the case of a rock which occurs at the summit of 

 Gunong Bakau, in the Federated Malay States. This rock was described as 

 occurring extensively, and as being of no value. [A reference introducing my 

 name is given here. — J. B. S.] It was further stated that the rock was 

 evidence of the existence in this part of the granitic magma of a great quantity 

 of free hydrofluoric acid capable of attacking felspar without the precipitations 

 of a previously combined base, such as tin. Subsequently, however, the rock 

 was found to contain tin-ore, and it has now been worked on a considerable 

 scale." 



As the Society's officers have published the above I will ask you 

 to print the following brief reply. 



The rock in question was not described as occurring extensively. 

 It was described as being of no value because neither the quartz nor 

 topaz was saleable. The passage concerning free HF omits any 

 reference to the following condition in my publication : " if indeed 

 it be correct to assume that the Chinchong rock is an alteration 

 product." Tin-ore has not been found in the rock. The rock has 

 not been worked. 



The speaker's imperfect knowledge of the locality and failure to 

 digest the page of my publication that he quotes have made him 

 oblivious of dangers greater than that which he describes. 



J. B. SCRIVENOR. 



"A" Company, Inns of Court O.T.C., 

 Berkhamsted. 



February 2, 1917. 



