170 Notices and Extracts from the Minutes of the Geological Society. 



The gypsum of this quarry is penetrated with a bituminous matter, the 

 odour of which is rendered perceptible by percussion or friction : it is rather 

 compact ; its texture is most frequently granular, sometimes scaly foliated ; and 

 sometimes it is found in small thin fibres. Its general colour is a light grey, 

 but also sometimes dark, approaching even to black. The rock on which this 

 gypsum rests is not ascertained, and veins of marl are observed in some in- 

 stances to intersect it. 



The phenomenon which renders this quarry very interesting is the great 

 quantity of vegetables which it contains. Every where stems and leaves of 

 plants are met with ; but it is very difficult to obtain such characteristic spe- 

 cimens as to determine their genera. The coaly impressions of the leaves are 

 generally broken. In a fine slab in my possession, six feet eight inches high, 

 three feet wide, and four inches thick, impressions of the leaves are seen of a 

 darker colour than usual : the contours of some are very evident, and one may 

 see the fibres of the leaves. The stalks which are disseminated very irregularly, 

 are compressed, carbonaceous, and can be detached in some places. Professor 

 Moretti discovered amongst these plants the leaves of the Salix capraea, the 

 Viscum album, and the Acer platanoides, — plants which grow at present in 

 the neighbourhood of the quarry. 



The occurrence of the remains of vegetables inclosed in gypsum is not 

 \incommon in other places. — In the Montmartre gypsum, trunks of the palm- 

 tree have been found ; but I am not aware that impressions of leaves and 

 stems have been seen in such quantity as at Monte Seano. 



10. Notice on the Rocks of Attica. By Joseph Woods, Esq. f.l.s. m.g.s. &c. 



[Read March 15, 1822.] 



Attica is a promontory, bounded on two sides by the sea, and divided from 

 the remainder of the Grecian continent by a range of mountains, the highest 

 point of which, the ancient Parnes, now Nozea, may be about 4000 feet above 

 the sea. 



Within the triangular space thus bounded, are also numerous mountains, 

 very irregularly disposed. The greatest heights are those of Pentelicus, 

 about 3500 feet, and Hymettus, about 2500 feet* ; and between the moun- 



* The lieights here stated are given upon estimations derived principally from t}\o duration of 

 tlie snow upon the mountains. 



