J40 DETONATING SILVER. 



rendered transparent by imbibing a fluid, the influence of 

 the lower stratums will be perceived, and will naturally 

 show itself here by a yellow or reddish colour, when seen 

 perpendicularly, while its oblique reflections will exhibit 

 ^eenish or violet tints ; and the drying of the substaiice will 

 restore every thing- trt its former state. 



Such in reality are the variations of the tints of certain 

 parts of a peacock's feathers: and such in my opinion is the 

 probable cause of their formation, which is equally applica-' 

 ble to those of the cock, the pigeon, and several other birds, 

 as well as to insects, and in particular that splendid but- 

 terfly, the large wings of which exhibit a fine green, when 

 \-iewed perpendicularly, and when obliquely a beautiful 

 violet. 



XV. 



Account of a Fnhn'inating Compoimd of Silver, of a white Co- 

 lour mid Crystalline Appearance : hy Mr, DEaCoriLS*. 



Det&natin^ m\. Detonating powder has been sold lately at Paris as an 

 powder lately object of amusement. It is enclosed between the folds of a 

 sold, at Paris. , . ' i • i i i • 



card, cut in two lengthwise; the powder being placed at one 



end, ar.d tlie other being notched, that it may be distin^ 

 guished. If it be lakeu by the notched end, and the other be 

 held over the flame ol a candle, it soon detonate.?, with a tharp 

 sound, and vio et flames. The card is toin, and changed 

 brown ; and the part in contact with the composition is co- 

 ve; eel with a light metallic coating, of a gra] ish white colour. 



» ~. J Having: been consulted on the imture or this substance, 



A componnd " . 



of oxidL. of sil- which is sent to Paris ready prepared, 1 convinced myselt by 



-sjr, ammonia, various tr'als, which it is unnecessary to relate, thatlt is a 

 and vegetable , . . , .• 



matter. comy»ound of oxrie ot bilver, ammoiiia, and some vegetable 



matter; su that it is analogous to the fulminating mercury of 



Mr. Howard. 

 Methods of This couipound, which I call dKonating silver, to distin- 



making it, g^j^]-, \^ f,.(jjjj the fulminating silver of Mr. Berthollet, may 



♦ Annales de ChimiQ, vol. LXII, p. 198, May, 1807. 



be 



