Miscellaneous Intelligence. 479 



is estimated at very nearly 200 million dollars. This is an 

 increase of about 9 p. c. over 1917, and 40 p. c. over 1916. 



4. Contributions to the Mineralogy of Black Lake Area, 

 Quebec; by Eugene Poitevin and R. P. D. Graham. Mus. Bull. 

 No. 27, Dept. Mines, Can. Geol. Surv., 1918, pp. 82, pis. 12, figs. 

 22. — An important asbestos and chromic iron district is located 

 in the southeastern part of Ireland and the northwestern part 

 of Coleraine townships, Megantic county, province of Quebec. 

 Unusual minerals have been obtained from the various mines and 

 pits of this district for a considerable time but no systematic 

 study of them has previously been published. After a short 

 introduction giving the general geological features of the area 

 and a section devoted to a consideration of the genesis of the 

 minerals, the authors give a detailed description of the different 

 species observed. Some thirty-four different minerals are noted, 

 chemical analyses and the results of crystallographic and optical 

 study being given for the most important. The following miner- 

 als are especially interesting; Stichtite, previously known only 

 from Tasmania, has been identified here. Diopside is found in 

 minute crystals of unusual habit, their color being either color- 

 less, lilac or yellow ; some eleven new forms have been identified 

 on the crystals together with a large number of rare forms; 

 analyses show that the material is almost of the normal type rep- 

 resented by the formula CaMg(Si0 3 ) 2 . Both grossularite and 

 andradite garnets are found ; the crystals are notable frequently 

 having rare tetrahexahedral and hexoctahedral forms, one 

 type showing the hexoctahedron (853) almost in simple develop- 

 ment. Small and exceptionally brilliant crystals of vesuvianite 

 also occur, showing the following colors : colorless, lilac, emerald- 

 green, pale yellow and reddish brown. A new mineral colerain- 

 ite was also found. An abstract of its description has been 

 given in this Journal, see 45, 478, 1918. w. e. f. 



II. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. Field Museum of Natural History. — Annual Report of 

 Frederick J. V. Skiff, Director, to the Board of Trustees for the 

 year 1917. Pp. 147-222, with numerous illustrations. Notwith- 

 standing .adverse conditions gratifying progress on the new 

 museum building in Grant Park is noted. It is stated that the 

 steel for the roof of the entire building (except entrances) would 

 probably be 'in place by April, 1918. 



Botanical Series. Vol. 4, No. 1. Neiv Species of Xanthium 

 and Solidago; by Charles Frederick Millspaugh and Earl E. 

 Sherff. Pp. 7, 6 pis. 



2. The Sarawak Museum Journal; issued by the Sarawak 

 Museum under the authority of His Highness the Rajah. — Part 

 III of vol. 2, pp. 287-424 contains an important memoir, entitled 

 "Keys to the Ferns of Borneo;" this is by E. B. Copeland, 

 professor of plant biology, University of the Philippines. 



