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past summer in tlie “ Bad Lands ” south of the Black Hills. The explora- 
tions were very successful, notwithstanding extremely cold weather, and 
the continued hostility of the Sioux Indians. The latter refused to allow 
the expedition to cross the White River, hut a reluctant consent was at last 
obtained. They afterwards stopped the party on the way to the “ Bad 
Lands,” attempted a night attack on their camp, and otherwise molested 
them, but the accompanying escort of United States troops proved sufficient 
for protection. The fossil deposits explored were mainly of Miocene age,, 
and although quite limited in extent, proved to be rich beyond expectation. 
Nearly two tons of fossil bones were collected, most of them rare specimens, 
and many unknown to science. Among the most interesting remains 
found were several species of gigantic Prontotheridce, nearly as large as 
elephants. 
Professor Prestwick's Opening Lecture at Oxford. — We are happy to learn 
that Professor Prestwich’s Oxford inaugural lecture was distinguished from 
the run of inaugural lectures by containing new and important geological 
views, and some account of the light that has been thrown on geology by 
Mr. Lockyer’s spectroscopic researches. It is, we are informed, to be 
published immediately as a pamphlet. 
Middle-Park “ Mineral Coal .” — Mr. E. J. Mallett, writing in a late 
number of an American journal (“The Rocky Mountain News”), says: 
“ Considering all of its properties, I may say that it possesses much in 
common with the recently discovered mineral called albertite, a species of 
solidified petroleum, and also with what is known as torbanite. These two 
varieties are highly valued by gas manufacturers, who mix from five to 
twenty per cent, of these bituminous compounds with less bituminous coal, 
thereby greatly increasing the yield and quality of the gas. It resembles 
the former in the large amounts of gas and tarry oil it yields (which may 
prove as valuable as that derived from albertite), but differs from it in being- 
heavier — the specific gravity of the albertite being 1*090, while this is 
1 *823 — also in yielding no soluble products when treated with bisulphide of 
carbon, spirits of turpentine, ether, &c. From torbanite it differs in not 
crackling in the fire, in being much heavier, and in melting and intumescing 
when heated. Analysis shows it to contain in one hundred parts 6*02 per 
cent, of water and moisture, 39*95 per cent, of volatile matter (gas and 
tarry oil), 54*03 per cent, of fixed residue, consisting of coke and ash. As 
much confusion exists in the nomenclature of the mineral fuel of Colorado, 
I would propose, as I recently did to Professor Hayden, to give up en- 
tirely the term lignite as a special class name. If we call our mineral 
fuel lignite, we must conclude that lignite can be either bituminous 
caking, bituminous non-caking anthracite, or possess an organic struc- 
ture. The term lignite should be dropped, as being inapplicable when 
applied to our mineral fuel as a class. The coal from Middle Park is of 
the class caking-bituminous, and being a peculiar variety, might be dis- 
tinguished as “ Bverite.” 
Vertebrate Fossils found in New Mexico. — Professor E. D. Cope, in a 
recent pamphlet, states that the Eocene discoveries shows that an Eocene 
lake extended over the part of New Mexico now drained by the tributaries 
of the Chama River on the east and the San Juan on the west. The 
