V 



92 Scientific Intelligence. 



This gives a ratio of 2:3 nearly for (Co, Ni, Fe) : (As, Bi, S). 

 The composition is somewhat analogous to that of rammelsbergite, 

 but the latter has the ratio of about 1 : 2. 



Brostenite is a hydrated manganite of iron and manganese, 

 analogous to chalcophanite in composition. It occurs in large 

 quantities in the crystalline schists of the region of Brosteni, dis- 

 trict of Suceva. It is compact, friable; of a black color; luster 

 semi-metallic on the fresh fracture but becoming dull on exposure 

 to the air. Treated with hydrochloric acid, chlorine is freely 

 evolved. Different samples yielded somewhat varying results 

 upon analysis ; that from the valley of Holda is interpreted as 

 follows : 



Mn0 2 MnO FeO CaO H 2 Garigue (SiO a ) 



52-40 6-16 11-47 3-05 11-97 14-75 = 99-80 



The formula calculated from this is: 2Mn0 2 .RO + 2H 2 0, where 

 R = Mn, Fe, Ca. For the mineral from Dorna, the formula 

 6Mn0 2 .2RO + 3H 2 is calculated; and that from Dealul-Ferului, 

 it is suggested, may be a mixture of these. The deposits of man- 

 ganese oxides have probably been formed by the action of car- 

 bonated waters upon manganese carbonate. 



10. Mineralogy ; by Frank Rtjtley. Twelfth edition, revised 

 and corrected, pp. 240, 12mo. London, 1900 (Thomas Murby). — 

 The fact that this little work is now in its twelfth edition is suffi- 

 cient indication of the excellent way in which it fills the place for 

 which it was written. Though necessarily brief in its treatment 

 both of the theoretical and descriptive parts, a great deal of 

 matter is brought together in a small space, and much good judg- 

 ment is shown in the presentation of the whole. 



11. Corundum and the Basic Magnesian Mocks of Western 

 North Carolina; by Joseph Olney Lewis (Bulletin No. 11, 

 North Carolina Geological Survey). Pp. 107, Winston, 1896. — 

 This Bulletin gives an interesting summary of the occurrence of 

 corundum in North Carolina and the various types of rocks, 

 peridotites, pyroxenites and amphibolites, with which it is asso- 

 ciated. 



III. Botany. 



1. Les Maladies et les Ennemis des Cafeiers y by G. Dela- 

 croix. Second edition, pp. 212, 8°, witli 50 figures. Paris, 

 Augustin Chollamel, 1900. — The first edition of this work formed 

 a series of articles published in the Revue des Cultures Coloniales 

 in 1898-99, which with numerous additions are now issued as a 

 separate volume. Under the head of non-parasitic diseases are 

 treated such subjects as changes due to excess of heat and mois- 

 ture. By far the greater part of the volume is devoted to para- 

 sitic diseases, including both those due to fungi and those due to 

 insects. Of the former the rust, JBemileia vastatrix, is the most 

 widely spread and most injurious, and is treated at length by the 

 author. According to Delacroix, the only parts of the world 

 exempt from this disease are the west coast of Africa, New Cale- 

 donia and America, including the West Indies. He does not 



