Qi 



MISCELLANEA. 



One cannot determine the exact division of the palaeozoic series 

 indicated by these fossils, because, with the exception of the Gor- 

 gonia (a Silurian species according to MM. de Verneuil and d'Ar- 

 chiac), they are met with in deposits of different dates. 



There was also a specimen of sandstone, from the same country, 

 exhibited markings of a Neuropteris, having a close resemblance to 

 specimens of ferns from coal-measures. — Bulletin de la Soe. Geol. 

 de France, 2nd Ser., vol. iii. p. 62. 



III. On the Chemical Composition of Calcareous Corals. 



The recent analysis of the solid parts of several species of recent 

 Corals has exhibited the very interesting result, that the Zoophytes 

 which form these stony skeletons secrete a very important proportion 

 of silica, and that of the salts the fluates greatly exceed in amount 

 the carbonates. The following examples are among the most re- 

 markable in this respect, and may serve to suggest some interesting 

 investigations with regard to the conditions of deposit, and the na- 

 ture of fossil corals and the siliceous minerals (and chiefly common 

 flint) found so frequently associated with organic secretions from 

 sea-water. 





Porites favosa. 

 Sandwich Isles. 



Madrepora pal- 

 mata. 



Antilles. 



M. prolifera. 

 Bermudas. 



Astraea Orion, 

 Ceylon. 



Silica 



22- 



1303 

 7-66 

 7-83 



12-48 

 2-70 



16- 



18-30 



125 



7-5 



4-2 



26-34 



26-62 



8- 



14-84 



10-32 



15-57 



38-49 



7-5 



2-62 



0-25 



25-25 



30-01 



17-45 



24-57 



0-85 



4-31 



0-32 



2249 



Lini6 • •>• 



Magnesia 



Filiate of lime 



Fluate of magnesia 



Phosphate of magnesia 



Alumina and iron 



Oxide of iron 







10000 



100-00 



10000 



10000 



Silliman's Journal for May 1846. 



IV. Discovery of spirally -dotted or scalariform Ducts and other Ve- 

 getable Tissues in the Anthracite of Pennsylvania, U.S. 



An interesting notice on this subject (illustrated by figures) will be 

 found in the May number of Siiliman's Journal for this year (184<6). 

 The author. Professor J. W. Bailey, of the U. S. Military Academy, 

 examining the burnt ashes of the coal from a common fire, found 

 many of the masses separable into laminae, on almost all of which 

 vegetable structure could be detected. The specimens thus obtained 

 exhibit, both as opake, and (when properly prepared so that the 

 carbonaceous matter is removed) as transparent objects, indications 



