118 Scientific Intelligence. 
operating. For the reduction of 0°54 grm. of NO,, 
iron and 8-10 grm. of zine filings, 16 yrm. of solid caustic potash, and 
0 ¢.c. of alcohol of sp. gr. 0°825. The substitution of aleohol for 
water prevents the troublesome frothing of the mixture when undergoing 
distillation. The apparatus employed is an evolution flask of 300 to 360 
¢. ¢. capacity, which is connected by a rather long doubly-bent tube with 
e 
potash, zinc, iron, and alcohol bei 
principle. 
It is scarcely needful to remind the analyst that several of the reagents 
employed are liable to contain either ammonia or nitric acid, and that 
ir purity must be carefully attended to, 8. W. 
lil, MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY. ae 
1. Annual Report of the State Geologist of California for the year 
1862, 12 pp., 8vo. San Francisco, 1863.—From this brief letter, ad- 
dressed by Prof. Whitney to the Governor of California, and from & further 
communication made to the California Academy of Natural Sciences, % — 
to the progress of fee 
They contain a compilation of near 
_ ? See this Journal, [2], xxxv, 279. 
