1877.] Microscopy. BTT 
some account of the Little Rocky Mountains, a region lying north of 
the main route of the party. The description of new fossils, by R. P. 
Whitfield, is accompanied by two plates. 
Recent GEOGRAPHICAL Procress. — First and foremost we have 
to mention the numerous scientific congresses: the periodical sessions of 
the International Congress of Geographical Sciences inaugurated at 
Antwerp, in 1871, and continued at Paris, in 1875; the periodical ses- 
sions of the International Geodetic Association, the last session of which 
was held at Bruxelles, in October, 1876; the Statistical and Prehistori- 
cal Congresses at Buda-Pesth, the Congress of Orientalists at St. Peters- 
burg, and that of Anthropologists at Jena; and, further, the creation, 
since 1870, of numerous geographical societies, to wit: in 1870, at 
Bremen; 1872, at Buda-Pesth; 1873, at Halle, Kiew, Hamburg, 
Bern, Amsterdam, Lyons, and Paris (Society of Commercial Geog- 
raphy); in 1874, at Bordeaux (Society of Commercial Geography); in 
1875, at Cairo, Bukarest, and Lisbon; in 1876, at Madrid, Marseilles, 
at Paris (Topographical Society), at Bruxelles and at Antwerp; finally, 
the International Association for the purpose of suppressing the slave 
trade and exploring Central Africa, due to the high initiative taken by 
H. M. King Leopold II., and constituted at Bruxelles, September, 
1876. — Bulletin No. 1, Geographical Society of Belgium. 
MICROSCOPY. 
Fossir Draroms rrom Sours AvustRALIA. — Mr.: Galloway C. 
Morris, of East Tulpehocken Street, Germantown, Philadelphia, ob- 
tained from the commissioner in charge of the South Australian exhibit 
at the Centennial a small supply of a most interesting diatomaceous 
mineral called coorongite, from the Coorong District, in South Australia, 
where it is found. It is a mineral of a dark-gray or ash color, a light 
specific gravity, and a fine spongy texture, occurring in great quantities, 
and consisting of about twenty per cent. of a hydrocarbon which can be 
Separated by distillation for economical purposes as an illuminating and 
lubricating oil, and a residue consisting mainly of fresh-water diatoms. 
t burns when heated on platinum foil, is permanent in the air, and is 
unaffected by moisture. It is not disintegrated in ether or chloroform, 
though most of the oily hydrocarbon is removed. Mr. Morris has suc- 
ceeded best in preparing it for the microscope by boiling it in sulphuric 
acid with the addition of a small quantity of bichromate of potash to 
make chromic acid and give off the hydrocarbon as carbonic-acid gas. 
He has a few slides to spare, which he is willing to exchange for other 
mounted specimens. 
Annvat Reception. — The American Microscopical Society of the 
city of New York held a very successful invitation exhibition at Kurtz’s 
art gallery, Madison Square, on Tuesday evening, March 6th. , 
Dirwrueria. — This subject has been discussed at recent meetings 
