358 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. 



very distinct crystals (oetabedrons with truncated edges,) of a steel-blue and 

 feebly magnetic substance, which exhibited all the reactions of sesqui-oxide of 

 iron, and yielded a dull red streak. These little crystals must be consequently 

 either Martite, or altered Magnetite, in all probability the latter. The existence 

 of Martite, indeed, as a truly independent species, remains yet to be preyed. 

 The boulder in which the crystals occur was found on the shore of Bass Lake, 

 near the road between Coldwater and Orillia, in Canada West, and about four 

 miles from the latter village. Unaltered Magnetite in small granular masses, is 

 present in almost all the crystalline boulders so abundant in that part of the 

 country. 



pictet's paleontologie : triarthrds beckii. 



In the second volume of the new edition of Traite de Paleontologie, by Prof, Pictet, 

 of Geneva, there occurs a striking example of the inexpediency of giving to rock 

 groups names founded on the mineral characters of these. In the volume in 

 question, it is stated that Triarthrua Beckii, the well-known trilobite of our 

 Utlca schist, occurs not in the Silurian, but in the Carboniferous formation, — the 

 term bituminous shales, so often applied to the Utica schist, having manifestly 

 been mistaken by Professor Pictet for the bituminous shales of the coal measures. 

 In the fourth volume, published two years after the appearance of the second, the 

 error is repeated. In the second volume (page 492) Prof, Pictet states, " Le 

 Triarthrus Beckii, Green, a 6te trouve dans un schiste carbonif^re des environs 

 d'Utica (etat de New York*, C'est, comme je I'ai dit plus haut, la seule espece 

 de cette famille qui n' appartienne pas a I'^poque silurienne ; " and in the fourth 

 volume (page 601), the genus Triarthrus is refered, with PhilUpsia, to the Car- 

 boniferous epoch. As this error does not appear to have been remarked, we 

 venture to notice it in the present place, but with full acknowledgment of the 

 general excellence and undoubted value of Professor Pictet's useful and most 

 beautifully illustrated work. 



NEW GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE. 



We have just received the fourth number of a new monthly magazine, " The 

 Geologist," published in London (England), under the editorship of S, Y, Mackie, 

 Esq, The number before us contains a series of interesting articles, by Professor 

 De Koninck, Professor Ansted, and others, written in a sufficiently popular man- 

 ner to suit the general reader, and afford information to persons commencing the 

 study of Geology. The list of promised contributors to this new scientific maga- 

 zine, augurs well for the success of the work. An article in the present number, 

 by Professor Buckman, on the application of Geology in coal-seeking, might be 

 read with profit by some of our Canadian coal discoverers. The Geologist is pub- 

 lished once a month by Messrs. Reynolds & Co., of 15, Old Broad Street, London, 

 at one shilling per number. 



CARL FRIEDRICH PLATTNER. 



We notice with great regret in the last number of Silliman's Journal, a record of 

 the death of Professor Plattner, of Freiberg, well known as the first blowpipe 

 analyst of the day, and the author of the celebrated treatise, " Die Probirkunst 

 mit dem Lothrohre," and other valuable works. Plattner died on the 22nd of 

 January.' He was born on the 2nd of January, ISOO. For same time before 

 his death, we believe, he was severely afflicted. E. J. C. 



