GEM COLLECTION. 273 



South Africa. Superb rutilated quartz (sagenite, fleche ftamour, Venus- 

 hair-stoue, or Lovers arrows), in the rough aud in cut form, are from 

 North Carolina. Rhode Island contributes black hornblende blades in 

 quartz, aud green actinolite in the same (the Thetis-hair-stone of Dr. 

 Jackson). The actinolite, when in straight layers in the quartz, occa- 

 sionally forms a quartz cat's-eye, if cut across the fibers. The Thetis- 

 hair-stone from Japan is one of the most interesting and beautiful stones 

 in the series of sagenitic quartzes. 



The large pieces of black onyx, chrysoprase, carnelian or sard, and 

 sardonyx, and the series of agates, of various colors, numbering over 

 one hundred and fifty specimens, are cut into a variety of forms ; the 

 fine 3-inch square slab of " gold quartz," of the jewelers, is from Grass 

 Valley, California. 



Fine aventurine quartz, with spangles of mica in a rich reddish-brown 

 quartz, from Eussia, vases of which are often worth thousands of dol- 

 lars, and a fine green aventurine, called imperial jade by the Chinese, and 

 more esteemed by them than any of the true jades, deserve attention. 

 The series of fifteen small Indian mocha-stones is very attractive ; the 

 black, moss like markings are relieved by the red spots in the gray body 

 of the stone, thus presenting a surface beautifully diversified, A 6 by 

 4 inch slab of moss-agate attracts much attention, different people see- 

 ing in its markings various bits of fancied scenery. A 2 by 4 inch slab 

 and a circular disk, 1 inch in diameter, are good representative pieces 

 of the blood stone or heliotrope, so much used in rings and seals. A 

 rich, brown, speckled jasper is worthy of notice. The series of quartzes 

 closes with three polished pieces of silicified wood. 



The two cut moldavites (Moravian bottle-glass), about 1 inch across, 

 are of rare occurrence. They are transparent, dark-green obsidians 

 from Moravia, for which worthless green bottle-glass has sometimes 

 been sold. With them are i*>ur sleeve-button pieces of opaque obsid- 

 ian; two black, two red and black, from the Yellowstone National 

 Park. 



The two sun-stones from Norway — the largest 1 h inches long, the other 

 a three-quarter-inch cut cabochon — are indeed fine, but a cut stone 

 of the same material from Delaware County, Pennsylvania, the same 

 length as the larger specimen from Norway, is nearly equal to them. 

 A group of fourteen moonstones, of various sizes, from Ceylon, and two 

 from Norway, one a half inches long, the other an inch, make a hand- 

 some display, grouped with the sun-stones and smaller labradorites. 

 The last-mentioned species is fully represented, one polished piece be- 

 ing over a foot across, and a number showing the beautiful chatoyant 

 colors to perfection. 



Amber — yellow, transparent, and containing flies and other insects — 

 is present in the form of cuff-buttons, a breast pin and beads; also, in 

 larger pieces, with one side polished, and large u tear-drops," which are 

 especially of educational interest. 

 H. Mis. 170, pt. 2 14 



