418 Scientific Intelligence. 
rocks, and a number of analyses of the contained feldspar. The 
Report also fos oe very valuable tables of heights along different 
railroads, and in the mountains. ere are brief accounts also of 
iron-ore in Bartlett, and the alluvial gold of Ladin Stream. Th 
preparation of the final — Report on the geology of the State 
Is stated to have been be 
12. Memorie per servire calla Deserizione della Carta Geologica 
@ Italia, Ae tis a cura del R. Comitato Geologico 
Vol.L 364 pp. 8vo.—A beautiful volume of Italian geological 
memoirs, ithiseenbed by a geological — of the Island of Elba, 
13. On the Occurrence of Nativ aan Acid in Eastern 
Texas; by J. W. Matret, Ph.D. (Proc. Brit. Assoc., 1872.)— 
Not far from the Gulf of Mexico, and within twenty-five or thirty 
miles to the westward of t eches river, there occur at several 
of open prairie—small drainage-wells and shallow pools of water 
T 
strongly sour to the taste. is sourness is due to the presence 
of free sulphuric acid, which is ae by various salts, esp 
ially aluminium an sulpb At most of these oe 
n 
gases are continually ecapitig (hydrogen sulphide, marsh gas, 4 
carbonic anhydride), the bubbles burning readily on the application 
of a light. 
1g 
At the bottom of the water in some instances, as at one — 
where, by means of an artificial bank, a pond has been formed 0 
some 250 feet in diameter, known locally as the “sour lake,” an 
A 
iety of p ‘ 
rounding soil, occasionally to such an extent that sods taken Up 
with a _ ‘are set on fire and used to give light in the open air 
at ni 
Ata a point in Louisiana some fifty or — miles further east, 
where, however, the acid water does not oceur, though combusti- 
nore or less mingled with calcium carbonate, and underlaid nt 
The circumstances connected with "the occurrence © 
of le A 
gether | in this region of combustib etroleu sulphur, 
g reg gio us as Pp F ts 
e walphatio acid Near “witch seems to be pense sal 
h a 
Foes Soa by Dr. Mallet sitaiaet o less than ye 
grms. sulphuric acid (H,SO,) to the Btie or 370 grs. from 
imperial gallon, this exceedi ng any" amount hitherto —— 
