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supposes gums or resins could not entrap insects, which 
Amber is often understood to do, and even fishes. 
The resin called Gum Aniine by the apothecaries and 
varnish-makers, is often used to make varnish, which very 
nearly resembles amber varnish, as the resin itself does 
Amber. Pieces of this frequently contain many ants and 
other insects, as well asthe Gum Copal. TI have seen a 
fish enclosed in Amber, bought at the high price of five 
guineas *, and have heard of another at the same price, 
which, when examined, was found to have had:the fish 
enclosed betwixt two concave pieces; the said fish being a 
badly dried stickleback, a very common inhabitant of our 
own pools and ditches. “Tt is very seldom, if ever, we see 
perfect Amber with insects, as it either has a deceptive 
appearance, or what was supposed to be Amber proves 
either Copal or Gum Anime. 
I find by my specimens of true Amber that it is subject 
to much variation, even in that character which has been 
deemed its principal criterion, viz. its odour, as some of 
the amber-workers, who seem to know it pretty well, find 
it occasionally very disagreeable. This causes much contra- 
diction among collectors. 
The best characters I can find for Amber at present are, 
that it occurs in irregularly rounded forms with a roughish 
coat, rendered dull with small semicircular flaws, varying 
from very bright transparent yellowish red to opaque white. 
When broken it has a waxy, or resinous, and rather horny 
appearance ; mostly having a conchoidal surface, and often 
sharp edges. It is resinously electric, and, on being 
briskly rubbed, gives out sparks visible in the dark. It 
takes a good polish easily, and retains it better than most 
resins, with a far superior degree of richness. It is rather 
colder, and I can fancy it allows the finger to slide more 
readily over it; it is also rather tougher than the hardest 
resin. 
* Not a high price, if no deception. 
+ All the resinous substances are nearly alike electric by rubbing, which 
is often considered as a characteristic mark of Amber. 
