NEW FOSSILS RECENTLY DISCOV- 
ERED IN KANSAS CITY. 
The Following Cuts Illustrate Thi<ee 
New Species of Fossils Recent- 
ly Discovered by Kansas 
City Collectors. 
JEsiocrinus Harii, M. Gr. 
Class 1, Crinoidea. Family Paterio- 
crinidje. 
The Crinoid is generally the most covet 
ed of fossils, but few line specimens 
having ever been found in the Upper Coal 
measures. Very recently Mr. Sid J. 
Hare, of this city, had the pleasure of an- 
nouncing to the Falaentological world the 
discovery of a new species found in a per- 
fect condition which has been named by 
Messrs. S. A. Miller and William T. E. 
Grurley, and described by them and illus- 
trated in the April number of the Cincin- 
nati Journal of Science. Several tine 
examples of this species may be seen at 
the Academy of Science Exhibit. 
Ulocriinis Buttsi. 
Class 1, Ckinoidea. Family Delocrin- 
us, or eupachycrinus. 
This specimen was named by Messrs. 
Miller & Gurley \\\ honor of Mr. E. Butts, 
City Engineer of Kansas City, Mo. 
The basal, or cut of the species shown 
above is the only one that has ever been 
found and is a very interesting fossil. 
The members of the Academy regret 
that the type specimens cannot be seen at 
their exhibit, it having been loaned to 
Mr. Gurley, of Danville, 111., through the 
kindness of Mr. Butts, who has spent 
nuich time and money in developing the 
winoidea beds of this vicinity. 
Discites Toddaiius. 
Class Cephalopoda — Family Nautili- 
D^. 
The above represents a fossil found in 
the neighborhood of Brush Creek. It 
was first recognized as a new species of 
Discites by David H. Todd, of this city. 
M r. Wm. T. E. Gurley, of Danville, 111., 
confirmed this discovery and gave the va- 
riety the specific name it now bears. 
About twelve specimens have been found 
in this locality. Several are in the Acad- 
emy exhibit. 
COMPOSITION OF GEMS. 
The Work Done by Nature's Chemistry 
IN Forming Precious Stones. 
"No," said the chemist, "the ruby is 
not called a ruby because it ig red, for the 
topaz, which may be yellow or a delicate 
wine color, and the sapphire, which is 
blue, are both rubies. The humble toiler 
consoling himself with his clay tobacco 
pipe, the potter molding the plastic clay 
into shape upon his magic whe^, or the 
delver in damp slate quarries, probably 
does not know that his pipe and his clay 
and nis brittle slate are of the very sub- 
stance from which the flaming Oriental 
ruby, the mellow topaz and the rich 
sapphire are evolved; but such is the fact. 
They are among the most beautiful of 
gems, yet are but simple crystals of a sili- 
ceous earth — mere bits of alumnia. The 
glorious blue light that lurks within 
the sapphire is the chemical action of one 
grain of iron on every one hundred grains 
of alumina. The red ruby owes its bright- 
ness and hue to a mingling of chromic 
acid with the pai-ent clay. 
"Different from the Oriental topaz is 
the topaz from Brazil, which, beautiful 
as it is, is nothing bnt a compound of si- 
lica, or flint, and alumina, which also 
makes the g-irnet, and largely compose 
the Occidental emerald and the Beryl 
stone. These two stones also contain an 
earth known as glucina, so called because 
of the sweetness of the salts discovered in 
it. 
"The dianumd is the king of gems, a 
monarch blazing like the sun, and the 
opal is its moonlight queen. Yet, as ev- 
ery one Knows, the diamond is only a chip 
of coal, and the opal, as every one does 
not know, is simply a mingling of silica 
and water. But the diamond is the spir- 
itual evolution of coal, the realization of 
its higliest being. Ten parts of water and 
minety parts of silica, combined in the 
mystic crucible of nature, form the opal, 
the water giving to the gem that shifting, 
changeable, irridescent color which is the 
opal's peculiar charm. Who would imag- 
ine that the fire in the opal is not fire at 
all, but, of all tilings, water! And yet the 
silica that holds the radiant moisture cap- 
tive is the common flijt from which our 
forefathers struck the igniting sparks into 
their tinder boxes. 
"But the opal is not the only precious 
stone that owes its being to flint. The 
amethyst, the cat's-eye, the Egyptian jas- 
per — all are idealizations of the ultimate 
eff"orts of natiu'al chemistry acting on sili- 
ca. What is the lapis lazuli? A bit of 
common earth painted throughout with 
sulphuret of odium. And the torquoise — 
what forms if? and how did it receive its 
soft, pale blue color? The torquoise is 
phosphate of alumina, and copper in the 
earth gave it its lovely hue. Chrysolite 
is pui e silicate of magnesia. Of the rare 
decorative stones and marbles, if there 
were no carbonate of copper the seeker 
after malachite would find his search 
fruitless, and the sculptor would sigh in 
vain for the matchless Cai-rara marble if 
there were no carbonate of lime." — New 
York Sim. 
How Far Can You See 1 
There has been a great discussion going 
on in Europe concerning the distance at 
which large objects on the earth's surface 
are visible. Emil Metzger mentions that 
he once saw Keizeerspickt, in Sumatra, 
when separated from it by 110 English 
miles; he also says that on very favorable 
occasions he has made out to see Guy M.e- 
rapi, in Java, when 186 miles intervened. 
E. Hill, the civil engineer, says that he 
has seen Mount Blanc from Piz Mauraun, 
near Dissentis, a distance of almost 120 
miles. S. Starkie Gardner states that 
Mount Blanc is visible from Piz Land- 
gard, though distant about three degrees. 
Waymper, the explorer, says that when 
he was in Greenland he could plainly see 
a mountain peak from which he was sepa- 
rated by 160 miles. Tl e whole range of 
the S^iss Alps have been looked upon by 
J. Hippislyly while 200 miles away; Sir 
W. Jones affirms that tlie Himalayas have 
appeared to his view from the great dis- 
tance of 224 miles. — St. Louis Republic. 
- - -♦- 
SUCOES.^ AWAITS ANY ONE WHO WU.L 
make himself thorougli, reliable and iic- 
cinate in Shorthancl and Typewi-iting. Tlie 
Dickson School of shorthand and Typewrit- 
ing, Deardortr bnilding, southeast corner 
Main .and Eleventh streets, offers the sini. 
plest, easiest and briefest system, yet the 
most thorough course. It is a progressive 
school with progressive methods for pro- 
gressive times, with hundi-eds ol graduates 
in positions, highly recommended by the 
business public; course 12 weeks: session 
day and night ; enter at once. 
Rare OpportiBiity. 
As I wisli to devote all my time to the 
Ta.Kidermy and Natnral History business, I 
will close oiit my entire stock of live birds, 
cages and bird goods at a reasonable figure. 
Here is a sood chance for anyone wishing to 
establish a Bird Store. Would take desirable 
Natural History Specimens tor part pay- 
ment. C. F. CAKR, Madison, Wis. 
