a7 
272 Scientific Intelligence. 
quantity. Much of it is soft, of a grayish-white _— composed 
of delicate parallel fibers, often one foot in length, with a marked 
cross cleavage oblique to the fibers, as in hornble nag 
Intimately associated with the asbestus, is an alte 
is appe 
alli 
separated by a decomposed asbestiform mineral, an 
0 
foliated scales and small angular aggregations, occasionally several 
inches in size. Hardness, about 1°5. Luster pearly, sometimes 
Se Color light brass-yellow to yellowish brown, scarcely 
sparent, even in very t olia. Flexible, inelastic. Before 
the. b owpipe exfoliates remarkably, and at last. fuses slightly on 
the edges. is property however is variable. Of five specimens 
“en only two ne in a marked degree. The lamine after 
ty. 
Iiibdines% veins of altered mica are free from admixture with soil 
or other minerals; and the substance is often so loose as to - 
readily displaced by the hand without the aid of a pick. ‘Farm 
use it as an absorbent for bedding cattle. Might it not be en, 
Not the least interesting circumstance, however, is the presence 
at sg spot of corundum. Flattened masses of brownish-black 
ica, superior in hardness to the surrounding mineral, contain 
nodules ~ F corandophilite which inclose a white corundum. It 
other locality being at Chester. It rarely occurs in and in 
small quantity; but doubtless farther excavations will develop 
more valuable specimens. The locality promises considerable 
interest to the mineralogist ; and it is belioved that the asbestus 
may prove of sufficient value to warrant mining, 
Amherst College, Nov. 13, 1869. 
7. Note on the Remains of Fossil Birds; C.M 
Just after the article on 205 to 217 ie es ye to press, ‘ 
received . sor F, V. Hayden a unique specimen, which 
ie Specimen was dissoveeeds in a fresh-water Tertia deposit - 
the Green River group, in Wyoming Territory, and will be figured. 
and described in full with the osseous remains noticed in the 
above article. 
gp a a la pee pe 
pe for sanding paper, in place of blotters 
