It is estimated that fifty thousand dollars’ worth of Tourmalines have been taken from this one locality. Auburn and Rumford, Me., are two other neighboring localities where good gems have been found. At Haddam Neck, Conn., fine transparent Tourmalines occur, generally green in color, and many of them of gem quality. They occur in a granite rock.
The red Tourmaline (Rubellite) from California, illustrated in the accompanying plate, is found in San Diego County of that State. The matrix in which it occurs is a lithia-bearing mica (lepidolite) of a delicate violet color. In this matrix the Tourmaline usually occurs in radiating masses. The rose color of the Tourmaline contrasting with the violet of the lepidolite makes an object which is quite a favorite with mineral fanciers, although the former is not sufficiently transparent to be used as a gem. At two other localities in the same State large transparent Tourmalines of varying colors have been found.
The Brazilian Tourmalines are chiefly green in color. They occur in connection with blue and white topaz. They are the source of the gem known as Brazilian Emerald, which has not, however, the value of the true emerald.
The Tourmalines from the island of Elba are generally red in color, transparent and well crystallized. They are, however, too small to use as gems.
The Ceylon Tourmalines occur in the gem gravels of that locality accompanying rubies, sapphires, etc., while those of Russia, chiefly red in color, come from the Ural Mountains, being found in company with amethyst, topaz, beryl and other gems.
Oliver Cummings Farrington.
THE STAR FISH.
One of the most common objects found along our New England sea coast is the star fish, called by the seamen “Five-fingered Jack.” The fact of its being common does not at all imply that its habits are commonly known. The great difficulty of watching it in its native haunts has been a drawback to getting better acquainted with it, but when taken to an aquarium it has been found to be an exceedingly interesting little star. At low tide you may find hundreds of them clinging to the rocks, sea moss or on the sandy bottom, but they prefer deep water. Their color varies from a dark rich brown to a reddish, and often a chocolate shade, sometimes lighter; but no matter the shade, they are always attractive.
The upper side is slightly convex, rough and tuberculous; the under side is soft and contains all the vital and locomotory organs. Immediately upon being taken from the water the soft under parts seem to shrink away and nothing substantial remains but the upper surface. This is perforated with pores, through which the water enters to all parts of the body by channels. Very near the center is a small opening through which the water is admitted to a strong, rather elastic, tube, which is encircled by a series of rings. Now turn the star fish over and you can see that this tube opens into a ring about the mouth, while similar tubes stretch out to the arms. From these cross tubes little fibers extend, terminating in discs. These are the true organs of locomotion, and are called ambulacra. They move very slowly and are not at all clumsy, but have even been called graceful by some naturalists.
A portion of these ambulacra are made fast by suction while the rest of the body is drawn forward; then the first are relaxed and the process repeated, thus they travel in the deep waters.