202 J. H. MAIDEN. 



friction ; contains empyreumatic oil and succinic acid, and corres- 

 ponds in all other respects with the brown amber of Europe.'" 

 [Journ. Soc. Arts, xv. 679.] 



The following note relates to a fossil resin supposed to be from 

 a tree allied to Gallitris (Frenela) : — 



"A very interesting discovery of fossil resin has been made by- 

 Mr. Richard Daintree, of the Victoria Geological Survey, in the 

 tertiary lignites of the Bass River, in the Western Port District. 

 The remarkable substance was obtained at the depth of about 

 50ft. below the surface ; the formation in which it occurs is of 

 great extent, but not sufficiently explored at present to enable 

 an estimate to be made of the probable quantity of resin available. 

 Like many fossil substances of this class the resin from the Bass 

 River is not easily dissolved in the ordinary menstrua; alcohol 

 and ether take up a portion of it, the former giving rise to a 

 brown colored solution, leaving the insoluble remainder in a 

 swelled and bleached state ; the latter forms a clear coloured 

 solution, which by evaporation leaves a pure white residual resin. 

 Turpentine does not exert any solvent power, while the essential 

 oil from Victorian Myrtaceous trees appear to be its best solvents, 

 as only a small insoluble portion remains after their action, con- 

 sisting to a great extent af mineral impurities. This resinous 

 body appears in small rounded masses, somewhat translucent 

 internally, but possessed of a rough opaque covering ; its colour 

 is a pale brownish-grey, with a glassy fracture, it is very friable, 

 and inflammable. On being heated it fuses with the disengage- 

 ment of much volatile matter, causing a frothiness that does not 

 subside for some time. It is less fragrant under these circum- 

 stances than the fossil resin of New Zealand, and the odour 

 resembles that of sandarac, a circumstance leading to the opinion 

 that this substance was originally the produce of a tree allied to 

 the genus Gallitris. It burns readily, leaving unconsumed a 

 quantity of bright and bulky charcoal." (Selwyn and Ulrich, 

 Notes on the Physical Geography, etc., of Victoria. Intercol. Exh. 

 Essays, 1866). 



