140 [January, 1S42 



Verbal Communications. Dr. G. C. Leib remarked, that 

 in looking over Dr. Giraud's work entitled " Sixteen New 

 Species of Birds," he found the Parus leucotis of Giraud, to 

 be identical with the Setofaga rubra of Swaiuson. 



Professor Johnson made some observations on the sponta- 

 neous combustion of Bituminous Coal. 



He stated that he had recently been invited to inspect aheap of 

 biluminous coal on the premises of Mr. John W. Middleton of this 

 city, which had for a few days previous been observed to be grow- 

 ing warm and giving off vapour very copiously, from which it 

 was inferred to be approaching spontaneous combustion. The 

 coal in question was stated to be from the Allegheny mountain, 

 above Holidaysburg, and to be a mixture of two or three different 

 mines. On causing a hole to be excavated about three feet deep, 

 the temperature was found to be 110 Fahrenheit ; and the day 

 being cold, (below freezing point) the volume of steam which 

 arose on moving the coal was so great as almost completely to 

 envelope and hide the workmen. All parts of the heap were ob- 

 served to exhibit distinct traces of the effloresced sulphate of iron; 

 or if some pieces of the coal had no visible marks of this kind, 

 they still exhibited to the sense of taste the strongest evidence of 

 being covered with that salt. 



This coal evidently possessed all the requisites for producing 

 spontaneous combustion, and only required time, and perhaps a 

 rather larger heap, to bring that process to the same termination 

 as was observed a few weeks since in the city of Lowell. 



The chairman having announced the demise of our vener- 

 able associate John Vaughan. Esq., on motion of Professor 

 Johnson, it was unanimously 



Resolved, That this Society have heard with deep regret, the 

 announcement of the decease of their late valuable member, John 

 Vaughan, Esq., so long known in our community for his various 

 merits, both in relation to scientific objects and to benevolent pur- 

 poses and institutions ; and they would by this act testify their 



