179° NOTES—-BIRDS AND GEOLOGY. 
The bones were steeped in water and sections cut which, upon 
microscopic examination, showed the structure of the bone admirably, 
but when treated with strong acetic acid, there was neither an effer- 
vescence such as would indicate the presence of carbonate of lime, 
nor was there any swelling of the fibres of organic matter. The 
latter observation showed that such organic matter (gelatine) as was 
present had been perfectly tanned. 
Dr. Cohen kindly made an analysis of a sample of bone (a portion 
of a maxilla) which he found to yield, upon ignition, an ash equal to 
only ‘21 per cent. or about ;3,. This residue would represent the 
whole of the mineral matter, and it consisted of iron, calcium, and 
phosphoric acid. 
Mr. Proctor informs me that tannic acid (a generic term which 
covers a considerable number of acids possessing tanning properties) 
has been extracted from peat in sufficient quantities to be placed upon 
geologists have long been acquainted with the fact that bones are often 
well preserved in peat. ibbert has mentioned the discovery in an 
Irish peat bog of bones of ee great Irish Elk de eset 
which actually contained the marrow. What is perhaps n in the 
present case, is that the preservative process ts tanning an Hee on 
simultaneously with the practically complete removal of the mineral 
matter of the bone, and that the two processes have been effected by 
the same agent. 
NOTE—GEOLOG ¥. 
New Plant-Beds at Hilton.—In a paper before us (Mem. 
Manchester Lit. and Phil. sans Mr, W. Brockbank recor 
upper stones of Hilt » West a of plant-remains similar to those 
well-known from the lower sandstones ugh opinions differ as to the value 
f ical evidenc iscovery is aa  Papostatit one, strengthening the 
argument for placing the whole in the Permian, inst the new mapping of the 
Geological Survey (Mr. Goodchild) which includes the upper rocks in the Trias. 
It is not quite accurate, however, to ard ssic age of St. Bees 
sandstone as a novel idea. It was the view he 
NOTES AND NEWS. 
A . worker in — a is worthily honoured in having his 
name ed with one of his own finds + Robert Kidsto’ mae a in 
the Annals and mayernts for Feb ies 6 a gs species of Equise m from the 
Barnsley coal-fie er th he . ble 
aelgne Mx, We. Hedteeraiae e name of Aemingwayi Kidst., after his intotanigg 
Naturalist, 
