272 



/Science at Konigsberg. [No. 12, new series. 



In the political disturbances of 18-18-49 the Society came under 

 the clutches of the Police, and its meetings became less frequent 

 and finally ceased ; but at length in March 1860 it came to life 

 once more, and we have the best evidence of its vitality in the 

 two numbers of its Journal, published in September 1860 and 

 March 1861, which form the heading of this article. The Society 

 consists almost entirely of men of Science, College professors, and 

 makers of mathematical and optical instruments. 



The contents of the two numbers alluded to are very interesting 

 to the lovers of Science generally. In the first number there is a 

 capital description of Amber, a substance well known to most of 

 our readers, yet never before subjected to an accurate and exhaus- 

 tive chemical analysis, so far as we are aware. It is found on the 

 southern shores of the Baltic in certain localities and is washed 

 up most abundantly in the autumnal and winter storms. A che- 

 mical analysis gives its composition as follows : — 



Water 2.6 



Coal 2.4 



Oxy. Sulphate of iron 0.72 



Sulph. Lime 0.82 



Oxid. Iron 8.48 



Clayey Earth 4,43 



Chalky „ 0.10 



Sulph. Acid 1.10 



Magnesia,... 0.41 



Silicic Acid le.15 



Quartz and other fragments , . 62. 



In another article there is a curious account of certain hu- 

 man skeletons found near Tilsit close to the Russian frontier. 

 It appears that in the year 1858 during the progress of certain 

 excavations, the work people came upon a large number of human 

 skeletons, the ornaments upon which buried with the bodies, show- 

 ed that they belonged to some of the old German nations. The 

 skulls were taken away and submitted to close examination and 

 comparison. The races formerly inhabiting these regions were 

 supposed to be the old Prussian and Slavic ; but in comparing 



