Proceedings. 187 



M.*. Milligan added to the collection the cranium of a Seal — Btenorliynclms 

 leptonyx, F. Cuv., obtained at Oyster Cove, D'Entrecasteaux Channel. 



A sample of Oil obtained from the Mersey Mineral, by distillation, has been 

 presented by Dr. Lee, with the following notes on the subject ; — 



(Copy from Note Book.) 

 ' Mem. I, — Concerning the Meesex Shale, from Mr. Mac Naughtan, 



Microscopic Steuctuee. 



By Reelected Light — (90 Diamexees.) 



Layers of more or less u'regularly-circular discs of a resinous colour, i. e., varying 

 from a pale amber in the brightest hght to a duU brownish orange in the 

 shade ; feebly translucent ; arranged with considerable regularity on then- flat 

 surfaces, these surfaces often being indented on the centre, somewhat re- 

 sembling the form of a human blood corpuscle, in some instances wruikled as 

 by pressure. The interstices between are interspersed with a quantity of 

 whitish, apparently amorphous, matter, resembling in appearance white 

 sugar, with a similar brightness of surface. 



A very few rhomboidal plates, and some remains of prismatic crystals in a state of 

 disintegration : these, however, were only observed in two out of thirty-seven 

 specimens examined. 



Bx Teansmitted Light — (90 Diametees.) 

 Discs vary fi'om "OlS to '018 and '019 of an inch in diameter. Some as large as 



•02, semi-translucent, mostly marked with an irregular double line, apparently 



contained in their interior. 

 Wheii ruptm-ed, the outer coat appears thin, and at 580 diameters amorphous. 



Mem. II. 



Chemical Relations, &c. &c. 



Colour — A dull uniform brown or deep buff. 



Fracture — Earthy, in layers. 



Specific Gra/vity — 

 Apparently whoUy insoluhte in alcohol and ether. 

 Inflammable — bm:ns with a white flame, giving off a large quantity of smoke: 



form remains unchanged after combustion. 

 Mesidue varies from 67"9 to 71'3 per cent, in 7 specimens examined. Consists of 



silica and alumina. (Query. Any other metal — copper or iron ?) 



