Scientific Intelligence Geognosy. 215 
tasteless and destitute of smell Its volatility and combustibili- 
ty are equal to those of any volatile oil or naphtha. 
7. Natural Carbonate of Soda.— M. Rivero of Santa Fe de 
Bogota, informs us, that he finds the following to be the constitu- 
ent parts of the Natural Carbonate of Soda, of the Lake of Meri- 
da in Columbia : 0.3900 carbonic acid, 0.4122 soda, 0.1880 
water, 0.0098 loss. 
8. Rare Minerals found in the vicinity of Edinburgh 
Within these few months, beautiful specimens of deeply coloured 
Frehnite have been found in Salisbury Craigs. In several of 
these, the prehnite was associated with that kind of Datolite de- 
scribed under the name Humboldite by Mr Levy. In the basal- 
tic rock of the Castle Hill, small, but beautiful specimens, of ra- 
diated Wollastonite have been found. Many years ago, fine 
specimens were got. The same mineral occurs occasionally in 
the greenstone of Salisbury Craigs. 
GEOGNOSY. 
9. Cave lately discovered near Killin. — A cave was lately dis- 
covered in a rocky hill near to this place, by following a fox 
which had entered it on being pursued. It is said to be con- 
rtained in a precipice of primitive limestone. The opening is 
small, but the interior is asserted to contain chambers in num- 
ber equal to those of the inn. It has no appearance of being 
an artificial excavation, and is said to be distressingly cold, and 
very dark. The existence of such a cave had been traditional- 
ly talked of, as having been the resort of a famous freebooter, 
who was betrayed by a paramour, to whom Duncan Dhu offer- 
ed as a reward as much gold as she could contain in her two 
hands. The gold, however, having been delivered in a melted 
state, the recompence proved perfectly suitable to the service. 
10. Ferussac's Edition of the Epoques de la Nature.— Fertis- 
sac is preparing an edition of Buffon’s Epoques de la Nature , — a 
work which will still be read with interest, as it contains many 
good ideas along with others fantastical and wild. The same ac- 
tive naturalist proposes to publish a description of the fluviatile 
and marine shells of the tertiary rocks of different parts of Eu- 
rope, accompanied with geognostic descriptions, but will not, we 
believe, adopt the opinions of Brongniart, in regard to fossil or- 
ganic remains. 
