11 
The J\l'(jituraU,sts’ Comfjauion. 
ruptly coating the rock, are raised upon 
a pretty pedestal, as it were, and are 
sometimes from a quarter of an inch to 
a foot in length. These pedestals are 
peculiarly shaped, if we notice, and are 
regular six sided prisms, covered or ter¬ 
minating in six sided pyramids, which 
are the points covering the rocks in our 
first observation, only ; as they were not 
so prominent, our brief glance failed to 
notice the legularity of their sides. 
At one locality the crystals are point¬ 
ed at both ends, and are exceedingly 
brilliant. 'I'hese are the Herkimer crys¬ 
tals, and little gems they are. One can, 
in these little crystals, find objects for 
their cabinets that will be a source of 
more pleasure than any other specimens 
they may possess. To say they are 
beautiful, is but faintly describing them. 
Of course there are to be found parties 
who can show you Herkimer crystals 
that may fail to excite your interest, in 
as much as they are inferior specimens. 
The complications of the hexagonal 
system, as observed in a handful of 
these little crystals, offers a vast field 
for observation. I have before me a 
number of these gems, and will endeav¬ 
or to give some idea of their beauty. A 
little box containing a dozen crystals, 
about two-thirds b}^ one-half inch in size 
lying on pink wool, are of dazzling bril¬ 
liancy, and only lack splendor to outdo 
so many cut diamonds. But to jdace 
this box of brilliants, worth the small 
sum of a dollai, by the side of a similar 
box of native diamonds, worth, if of 
equal size, thousands of dollars, and of¬ 
fer them to one hundred people, succes¬ 
sively, who knew nothing of their value, 
ninety-nine would invaribly select the 
quartz brilliants. Another box contains 
a few ‘‘twins,” of great whiteness, but 
in the centre is a glossy black speck of 
free carbon; giving an excellent con¬ 
trast of the two extremes of light and 
dark; transparency and opaqueness. 
One “twin” is nearly like figure 194 in 
Dana’s, a rare geniculation. The next 
box contains seven greenish-black crys¬ 
tals, where the impurity is diffused 
through the quartz. On holding one 
of these crystals to the light, one can see 
the greenish form is enclosed by a clear 
layer of quartz, forming hidden crystals. 
Passing along, I come to a beautiful, 
clear, regular crystal, with not a sign of 
an imperfection visible until it is exam¬ 
ined by transmitted light, when there 
is perceived a very dim shadowy outline 
of a ciystal, which is a “phantom.” 
'Phis whole paper could be used up in 
thus giving inadequate descriptions of 
these lovely foims of crystals. 
e will send 100 sheets of unruled 
writing paper ])ost-paid for 25 c. 
We can supply all back numbers of 
this paper at five cents each. 
We will print your name, address and 
business on 100 good envelopes and 
send post-paid lor only 40 cents, silver. 
The C. A. Templeton Co., of Ply¬ 
mouth, Conn., are prepared to furnish 
electrical novelties at low prices. 
Chas. H. Marsh, the well known or¬ 
nithologist, has gone on a collecting 
expedition in the San Diego mountains. 
We wish him the best of success. 
Through the kindness of the publisher 
we have received a couple of numbers 
of the popular “Humboldt Library.” 
It is one of the cheapest and best scien¬ 
tific magazines published, and treats on 
all subjects of interest to the scientist. 
Price only •>^' 1.50 per year or 15 cents 
])er copy. Address the publisher, J. 
Fitzgerald, 393 Pearl St., New York. 
