1880. | Concerning Amber. 185 
to the insect life of the amber age, but afford valuable information 
in regard to the history of many of our living species and groups 
(see Heer’s description of amber insects). These species are now 
mostly extinct but have affinity with tropical forms. A very in- 
teresting collection of these most ancient mummies can be seen in 
the British Museum. A classic spider is at Amherst, and in my 
own collection is a lizard so. perfectly embalmed that the animal 
tissues can be seen, as also the liquid contained in the stomach; this 
little curio has the honor of having been christened by Prof. 
Agassiz. 
Prof. H. R. Goeppert has made a study of the remains of plants 
found in amber, and has identified one hundred and sixty-three 
Species, all of which are now extinct. Mr. Kaldenberg, of New 
York, has specimens of amber containing bark, water and various 
insects. 
After mining, amber is kept temporarily in vaults near the am- 
ber localities. Rosa narrates that he entered one of the vaults of 
the Pachter Douglas, where he saw the yearly products arranged 
according to their size and quality in chests and baskets, and saw 
records containing the yearly results back to 1500. The worth 
of the pieces varies according to the size and perfection. 
For the trade it is divided into classes, the best pieces being 
generally sent in the rough to Constantinople, where they are 
used for the mouth-pieces of pipes, as it is still believed there that 
amber possesses properties preventing contagion, and as the pipes 
of this case-loving people are lighted by domestics, thre amber tips 
to the long stems are considered a prudent caution. This trade: 
with Constantinople is very ancient and still continues over the 
Same route as a thousand years ago. 
The smaller sized pure pieces are used for beads and the very 
impure for the distillation of succinic acid, the residue or refuse 
is the colophoninm-succini employed in the preparation of varnish. 
The varnish made from amber has long been considered the finest, 
but other resins are now its rivals, and varied are the secrets of 
this Prosperous trade. With amateurs at work all over the landi 
we may hope that even the secret of Stradivarius may yet come: 
to light! : ; oo ae 
The chemical analyses of all resins, both fossil and recent, differ = 
iis slightly. Certain varieties of amber, copal, mastic, etc, giv- : 
VoL, 21v.—No, m, 3 
