On the Composition of a Pseudo-Steatite. 447 



The following are the physical characters of the mineral: — 

 It occurs in irregularly striated masses of a dark-green colour, 

 which here and there changes to a brownish tint; it has 

 generally a dull surface, and when exposed to the air efflo- 

 resces ; fracture uneven ; it is easily broken and reduced to 

 powder, which has a green colour. Every part of the masses 

 has the genuine soapy feeling of the steatite. Its degree of 

 hardness is 2*2 ; as it is hardly scratched by gypsum, but is 

 distinctly so by calc spar. Streak dark greenish grey, and sub- 

 lustrous, It does not adhere to the tongue, has no taste, but 

 has a slightly argillaceous odour, especially when a fresh sur- 

 face is exposed. The specific gravity is 2*469. Before the 

 blowpipe it is infusible, but changes in colour from green to 

 brown ; with borax a yellow head changing to green; with 

 carbonate of soda a persistent dull green. 



The results of our analyses are now appended. 



Thomson. Binney. 



Silica, . . . , . 41-89 ... 42-78 



Protoxide of Iron, . . . 6 62 ... 6-31 



Alumina, .... 22-05 ... 22-53 



Manganese, .... traces ... traces 



Lime, .... 2-42 ... 254 



Magnesia, .... 616 ... 6'76 



Water, . . . ' . 20-22 ... 18 68 



99 36 ... 99-60 



Si0 2 RO R 2 0 3 HO 

 Oxygen ratio, 4 12 3 



IX. Notice of a Foetal Narwhal (Monodon monoceros ; Linn.) By 

 Robert Brown, Esq. 



Mr Brown exhibited a small foetal specimen of a Nar- 

 whal {Monodon monoceros, Linn.) ; and stated that another 

 foetus was also found in the uterus of the same animal, 

 which was captured in Davis' Strait, June 23d, 1861. 



In the " Linnean Transactions" (vol. xiii. pp. 620, 621, 

 " Extracts from Minute Book"), in a letter from Mr W. R. 

 Whatton of Manchester, it is noted, that in the summer of 

 1821, while a Hull whale ship was beset in the ice in the 



VOL. II. 3 M 



