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vicinity some extensive bits of Quaternary limestone lying a little above the present level of the Mediterranean and containing many fossil shells of which nearly all have their analogues at the present day although some now only inhabit tropical seas. Tewlve miles west of Leghorn rise the snow topped Apennines, & at their base flows the River Arno on which is Pisa--the, to me, finest city in Italy. There I spent an hour on the famous "Leaning Tower" and the rest of my New Year's day at the University, visiting with and viewing the collection of Professor Meneghini who is unquestionably the greatest geologist in Italy. He has studied in a very through manner the geology of Tuscany & has published a large work upon its sedimentary rock and eruptive rocks. These latter are very interesting both from there number of an variety as well as for the metamorphose in action which they have had on the Cretaceous and Jurassic limestone which they have traversed producing the So celebrated Italian marbles. Another fact which professor Meneghini has sought about very strongly in his work And Illegible both of which he gave to me is the relation of age between the interruptive and the sedimentary rocks. Thus for instance for instance throughout all Tuscany The heuristic port series reach the terms of the Pliocene. The serpentine Illegible and with the Miocene The dial cities. And Ophiolite with the Eocene, the Ophiolite with the cretaceous, &c, &c. I obtained from the prof a complete and nicelyTrimmed and labelIllegible of 54 of the principal eruptive, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks of Tuscany and also 50 species of Pliocene fossils in exchange for eight C. gigantum and some other Paris fossils he also gave me a long Itineraire and a hastily drawn map to serve me in an excursion which I made about 45 miles at sea southwest of Leghorn to "Elba." I staid upon the isle three days during which time I crossed it on horseback in several directions visiting the ancient and inexhaustible mines of Iron ore. The mineral occurs in immense [Illegible] with serpentine and is as abundant as it is rich. The find specular specimens the pyrites etc.Are not nearly not near as abundant as I had inferred, but I succeeded in tying up on my horse two bags of them which were so heavy that after this I was obliged to go on foot and I also brought another large lot of specimens at Porta Ferrajo, the chief town of the isles.