The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-24 00:00:00

GEOLOGY.

In this section Mr. Charles Moore, F.G.S., read a paper
" On the fossil contents of mineral veins in the carboniferous
limestone." His attention, he said, had been drawn to
the subject from the fact that the mineral veins in many
instances contained organic remains, by a study of which
it was not only possible to arrive at the age of the veins
in their several districts, but also to some extent the phy-
sical conditions associated with them at the time they
received their contents. The paper then proceeded to
give the results of the author's examination of 134 different
samples obtained from the mines of Cumberland and
Yorkshire. Of these 134 specimens organic remains had
been found more or less abundantly in eighty, a fact suffi-
cient to shew that, as a general rule, they might be found
in almost every vein, if a careful examination were made.
Amongst the organic remains deep interest would attach
to the presence of valvata, and other fresh-water shells,
often in great abundance, and in districts wide asunder,
shewing most conclusively a connection between North of
England mines and lodes of fresh water which must have
found their way into the veins by some neighbouring source.
Of vertebrata he had obtained teeth and scales of
Petalodus Ctenoptychns. Foraminefera were generally
very rare, while entomostiaca of several species were with
one exception the most constant organisms.

The will of Mr. J. Stirling Coyne, dramatic
author, has been proved under 25,000 personalty.
NEW ACT ON PETROLEUM.—Among the recent
Acts was one as to the keeping and storage of petroleum.
After February it is not to be kept within fifty yards of
a dwelling, or to be sold for illumination. The inspectors
of weights and measures are empowered to test petroleum.
A LIFE SAVED. —We are authorised to state that
Lieutenant E. S. Richards, R N., who was reported as
having been accidentally drowned while bathing at Great
Yarmouth on the Ist August, is still alive, having been
picked up by a vessel at sea.—Times.
EGGS HATCHED IN SAND.—An inhabitant of
Berlin lately, during the great heat, experimented on the
hatching of hens' eggs in sand. On the 22nd July he
placed six in a cigar-box filled with that material, and
exposed the case to the sun on that and the following days.
The first chick broke the shell on the 9th August, the
the second on the 10th, the third and fourth on the 11th,
and the other two on the following day. They are all
going on well, being fed on boiled eggs cut up small with
millet. The average period of hatching chickens is
twenty-one days; in the present case the first produced
was nineteen.
TERRIFIC STORM.—A terrific storm, accompanied
by hail and torrents of rain, broke over Champagne a few
nights back. At Ervy more than fifty chimneys were
blown down, and a tannery totally destroyed. At Saint-
Phal several cottages were set on fire by the lightning,
and the same at Fauchassis and Laines-aux-Bois. At
Saint-Thibault three dwellings were burnt to the ground.
At Cormort a stable was lifted from the ground by the
wind and destroyed, five horses and six cows being killed,
and a farm-labourer buried under the ruins and killed. At
the chateau of Saint-Aventin about 3,000 trees were up-
rooted, and 1,000 at Clery. In all directions the harvest
has suffered severely.
MR. DUCANE.--TllO people of Essex do not
intend to allow Mr. Ducane to leave for the governor.
ship of Tasmania without expressing-, in some tangible
form, their appreciation of his many and varied public ser-
vices during the eleven years he has represented the northern
division of their county in Parliament. A meeting of his
friends was held on Saturday, at the Three Cups Hotel,
Colchester, "to make arrangements for presenting him with
some mark of respect on his leaving the country ;" and,
although nothing definite was decided on, the greater portion
of those present were decidedly in favour of its taking the
form of a portrait. Mr. Ducane has been invited by
his friends and supporters to a farewell dinner at
the Corn Exchange, Colchester, on Tuesday, when it
is expected that upwards of 500 of the leading gentry of
the county, indoing several members of Parliament Lwill
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