NATURAL HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND. 357 



A silicate of protoxide of iron, unalterable in the air, may be formed 

 by an analogous process. The reactions of alumina, and of silicate of 

 alumina under similar conditions have yet to be examined. 



It appears to me that by this extension which I have given to the 

 reaction between carbonate of lime and soluble glass, already pointed 

 out by Kuhlmann, we have a key to the mode of formation of most of 

 the silicates of the metamorphic stratified rocks. The subject will be 

 found still farther developed in the forthcoming Report of Progress of 

 the Geological Survey. 



NOTES OJS T THE NATURAL HISTORY OE NEW 

 ZEALAND. 



BY S. E. STRATEORD, M.D., OE AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. 



Read before the Canadian Institute, 2%th February, 1857. 



Having been fortunate enough to secure a favorable opportunity 

 for transmitting a package to Canada, I have availed myself of it to 

 forward, for the Museum of the Canadian Institute, some specimens 

 of the geological formations and objects of natural history belonging 

 to this part of the world, which I bope may possess some interest 

 for the members of the Institute. 



Among the geological specimens will be found vesicular scoria?, 

 lava, volcanic ashes and cinders. These abound in almost all parts 

 of New Zealand, and in the neighbourhood of Auckland are parti- 

 cularly marked. Auckland, indeed, is a spot especially favorable to 

 the study of volcanic action, and 1 only regret that professional 

 engagements prevent my paying such attention to the subject as I 

 would wish. It may not, however, prove unacceptable, if I accom- 

 pany the specimens with a few remarks upon the subject, or at least 

 note, for my Canadian friends, some facts connected with the traces 

 of volcanic action in this neighbourhood. 



In the immediate vicinity of Auckland we have volcanic cones of 

 various dimensions, from the height of a few feet to upwards of one 

 thousand feet, They are grouped together iu clusters, so that from 

 the top of Mount Eden, two miles from this city, eighteen or twenty 

 may be counted. It must not, however, be imagined, that the vol- 



