Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-23
Amber.

OF amber the principal source Of sup
ply is land has been from time imme-
morial) the coast of the Baltic sea, be-
tween Memel and Dantzic, where 1t is
disseminated with layers of Ignite in
the sand or clay. 1t is searched for in
the sea or on the shore, picked from the
cliffs with iron hooks at the end OF long
poles, or regularly mined, the shafts be-
ing sometimes sunk to the depth OF one
hundred and fifty feet. Saxony supplies
small quantity; it also occurs in Sicily,
in Siberia, Sweden, Italy and other parts
of Europe. 1t occurs in varying guam
titles, in nodules or nuggets OF different
sizes. sometimes as small as grains OF
coarse sand; at others much larger. One
of the largest pieces on record - de-
posted in the Museum OF Minerals at
Berlin. This great mass, which
measures upward of thirteen inches in
length, eight inches broad and four
to six inches thick, with weight OF
over thirteen pounds, was found near
Gumbinen, in Eastern Prussia, in the
year 1898. The fortunate possessor re-
ceiyed for his prize one thousand thai
lers. though its real value far exceeds
that sum, Pope's familiar lines
pretty. In amber TO observe the forms
OF hairs or straws, or dirt, or grubs. or worms,
The things, we know, are neither rich nor
rare; %
express a query which is answered by a
writer in Science Gossip. Amber is a
resinous emulation from an old-world
pine.tree, named by Goppert Pinltes
succinifer. Pinites was closely allied to
our modern spruce. Amber is, therefore,
analogous in its nature to the resin which
is found in every fir plantation at the
present day. Indeed, if anything we're
wanting to prove its originally huld con.
dition, it would be the fact that debris OF
various kinds are frequently found en-
bedded in it, Fragments OF the flowers,
leaves and twigs of more than one hun
dred and sixty species of plants have
been detected by the indefatlgable Cop
pert, besides numerous insects. In
examining a piece of amber, says the
writer referred to, zone is often struck
with the fact that these little creatures,
or portions of them, are scattered through
the mass in every possible position: l
have before me at this moment piece
about two inches square and Of moderate
thickness, which is crowded with insects.
Within its transparent Substance l OBJ
serve a tiny beetle, apparently allied
TO our clythra, several small gnats, the
remains of moth (rather rare find,
by the way) and number OF white
ants (termites); there must be dozen
or more present. all winged, besides sew
eral detached wings, quite perfect IN
their outline, and with the neuration
beautifully clear. 1t is evident that the
little creatures settled upon the trea oh
erous resin at time when it was in
semi.huid condition, and were, of course,
retained there by the viscid nature OF
the substance. The gum, as it flowed
from the body of the tree, gradually sur
rounded its victims, and at last entirely
enclosed them in a premature but very
beautiful tomb. These insects are found
in different degrees of preservation:
Some, which were evidently engulfed
at once in the sticky matter, are as per-
feet as the day they were killed. Others
have been consigned to more lingering
death; the resin has exuded very slowly,
aud the victims have not only died be-
fore they were surrounded by it, but
having been trapped in bright clear
weather, their bodies have become des-
sicsted and withered; in some instances,
indeed, a white mould has begun to form
round them, plainly discernible IN the
pellucid amber"