140 Scientific Notes . [January, 
perfected by Newton, the laws admit of exacfl arithmetical 
definition.” We think this paper will be read by chemists not 
without interest. 
Geological Savvey of Canada. Report of Progress for 1876-1877. 
published by Authority of Parliament. 
The work done in these two years comprises an exploration of 
British Columbia, by Mr. G. M. Dawson ; a survey of the coal- 
fields of Nanaimo, Comox, Cowitchen, &c., by Mr. J. Richardson ; 
a report on the Goderich Salt Region, by Dr. T. S. Hunt; 
report on geological researches north of Lake Huron, and east 
of Lake Superior, by Mr. R. Bell ; surveys of the iron ores, 
apatite and plumbago deposits of Ottawa County, by Mr. H. G. 
Vernor; an account of the “Albert Shales” of Albert and West- 
moreland counties, New Brunswick; notes on miscellaneous 
rocks and minerals, by Dr. B. J. Harrington ; and an examin- 
ation of Canadian graphites, by Mr. C. Hoffmann, from which 
they appear for the purposes of the crucible maker to be equal to 
the Ceylonese quality. Indeed the mineral wealth of the dominion 
is greater and more varied than is often supposed. The annual 
production of gold in British Columbia is considerable, but it is 
unfortunately not stated in ounces, but merely in dollars’ worth. 
The argentiferous leads of Eureka, and of the Van Bremer Mine, 
show, acording to the assays of Dr. Harrington and Dr. Hunt, 
271*48 and 347*08 ounces of silver per ton of 2000 lbs. Various 
well-authenticated specimens of cinnabar, native amalgam, and 
native mercury, have been met with ; and Dr. Blake has found 
nickel among the heavy materials separated from the fine gold 
of the Fraser River. The exploration of British Columbia is as yet, 
however, exceedingly imperfecft. 
Dr. Hunt finds the salt from the Goderich deposits remark- 
ably pure, and calculates that every twenty acres of this layer, 
if mined out, would be sufficient to supply the whole yearly 
consumption of the United States. 
The principal palaeontological facfts recorded relate to the 
fossil inserts discovered by Mr. G. M. Dawson, at Quesnel, in 
British Columbia, and examined by Mr. S. H. Scudder. 
