Report on the Exhibition of Oems. 71 



tion on the occasion of a conversazione, held in our Hall a 

 year ago. They had passed into private hands, and conld 

 not be easily traced. 



No yellow topaz has yet been found that I conld ever hear 

 of for certain. All those shown to me were quartz — the 

 cairngorm stone. 



I may add that the exhibition brought out nothing fresh 

 as regards the crystallogTaphic character of the white and 

 blue topaz. It was in every instance obscure to the eye, 

 such as presented by rolled pieces, or rather water-worn 

 specimens ; but those from Flinders' Island were more dis- 

 tinctly marked in their outline than their Victorian neigh- 

 bours. 



I may venture to say that there is not in the world a 

 stone fit for brooches, of size, and fire, and lustre, and suited 

 to both day and candle light, equal to some of the blue 

 topazes which I have known to be found in Victoria. On former 

 occasions I have brought under the notice of this society 

 blue topazes, both cut and mounted, and in the rough state, 

 of a quarter of a pound weight, perfect in colour, and, con- 

 sidering their great size, almost faultless. Most of these 

 were from about Mount Greenock and Talbot. 



ZIKCONS AND HYACINTHS. 



The zircon family is most abundant over the gold regions 

 of Victoria. I have -seen them of several distinct colours 

 and shades of colour. 



In my own collection are a few remarkably beautiful 

 crystals, and rolled lumps of a very dark red colour, and per- 

 fectly clear. I exhibited one or two small white ones, cut, 

 but regret to say that I failed to discover the owner of one 

 of great beauty, which I saw when cut by Mr. Spink, and 

 said to have come from Gipps Land. It was free from the 

 sombre tint, so often seen in the white zircon. 



Of hyacinths there were in the exhibition a considerable 

 number, both cut and in the rough, found in Ballaarat, near 

 Daylesford, and the Crooked River. Along with the cut 

 specimens I exhibited some fine ones from India, Indian 

 cut, along side of which our own lost nothing in comparison. 

 This gem is perhaps too much underrated, on account of its 

 somewhat brick-red colour ; but it must be remembered that 

 it is a fine stone for artificial light, and free from the black- 

 ness which so detracts from the beauty of the garnet .in any 



