198 Miscellanies. 



Sept. 4, 1839. — Amos Binney, Vice President, in the chair. 



Dr. C. T. Jackson gave an analysis of the serpentine marble from 

 Vermont. This mineral is harder than common serpentine or feld- 

 spar. The result of analysis is as follows : 



Water, - - - . . 7.70 



Silica, - - . . . 45.80 



Magneticlron, - - . - 2.OO 



Magnesia, . . . _ 33.44 



Protoxide of Iron, . _ , 7.6O 



Oxide of Chrome, - - - 2.00 



Loss, ----- 1.46 



100.00 

 Dr. Jackson also gave an analysis* of a new mineral obtained from 

 Chessy, France, which was supposed to be a hydrate of copper ; anal- 

 ysis however proved it to be a crenaie of copper instead of the hydi-ate. 

 For this mineral, he proposed the name of Beaumontite, in honor of 

 M. Elie de Beaumont, the distinguished French geologist. He also 

 exhibited specimens in which crenic and apocrenic acid were combined 

 with metallic bases. Crystals of crenic acid were also exhibited ; 

 these were obtained by dissolving the acid in alcohol, and evaporating 

 to dryness in the sun. 



Dr. Jackson then read a communication addressed to him by 

 Mr. George Catlin, giving an account of his visit to the Coteau des 

 Prairies, the locality from whence is obtained the Indian "pipe stone."! 



3. Reports on the Shells and Minerals presented hy Dr. BrincTcerhoff 

 to the New York Lyceum of Natural History. \ 



The subscriber, who was appointed to examine and report upon certain 

 shells forming part of the valuable specimens of natural history presented 



* For the analysis of this mineral, see last number of this Journal, p. 398. 



t See the letter, page 138 of this No. 



X To the Editors of the Am. Jour. Science and Arts. — In the month of July last, 

 Dr. BrinckerhofF, of the U. S. ship North Carolina, presented to the Lyceum of 

 Natural History of this city, a large and valuable collection of specimens in natu- 

 ral history, collected by him during the recent voyage of this ship. These speci- 

 mens consisted of various mammalia, birds, reptiles, mollusca and Crustacea, nu- 

 merous tropical plants and seeds, with many interesting geological and mineralo- 

 gical specimens. They were deemed of sufficient interest and importance to be 

 referred to special committees for examination and report. The only full reports 

 which have yet been made, are those upon the mineralogical specimens, and upon 

 the mollusca. As there is no immediate prospect of a continuation of our "An- 

 nals," we have thought the best use we could make of these reports would be to 

 offer them for publication in your Journal. Yours most respectfully, 



John H. Redfield, Cor. Sec. JV. Y. L. JV. H. 



JVew York, November 19th, 1839. 



