388 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



To consume one inch, it took . . . 5' 0" 



Transferred to darkened room (temp. 67°) 4 30 

 In ordinary light of day (temp. 67°) . 4 52 



Exp. v. In order to vary the experiment, and guard as much as 

 possible against the agitation of the surrounding atmosphere, two 

 lanterns were procured, one of them was coated with black paint, 

 the other left naked. In these were placed two portions of taper 

 of precisely equal weights, and both were then exposed to a strong 

 glare of sunshine. 



In 10' that placed in painted lantern, lost . 16.5 grains 



„ „ uncoated lantern, lost .15. „ 



The diminished rate of consumption in both was probably owing 

 to the want of a free current of air through the lanterns. 



Exp. vi. With the view of ascertaining whether similar results 

 were to be obtained with the light of the moon, lanterns were pre- 

 pared, and the experiment tried, as last described, when a very 

 brilliant moon was shining, but no difference in the loss sustained 

 by the two portions could be perceived. 



Finally, Dr. M'Keever constructed an apparatus similar to that 

 used by Dr. Herschel in his researches on the power of the pris- 

 matic colours to heat and illuminate, and was thus enabled to 

 carry on the combustion of the taper in any of the coloured rays 

 of the spectrum. A piece of green taper being accurately marked, 

 and then ignited, was submitted to different portions of the spec- 

 trum, with the following results : 



To consume 2 in. of taper, it took in the red ray 8' o" 

 „ „ „ green ray 8 20 



j, ,, „ violet ray 8 39 



»j „ verge of violet ray 8 57 



Commencing with the violet ray, the loss of one inch of taper 

 was in the following times : 



At the verge of the violet ray . . . .4' 36" 

 In the centre of the violet ray . . . . 4 26 

 „ green ray . . . . 4 20 



„ red ray . . . .4 16 



Ann. Phil. N. S. x. 344. 



2. On the Simultaneous Action of Gaseous Oxygen and Alkalis on 

 Organic Substances. By M. Chevreul. — The following are some 

 of the facts from a memoir by M. Chevreul, upon the combined 

 action of oxygen and alkali, upon substances unaffected by either 

 agent separately. The experiments were made by pouring mercury 

 into a jar or tube, about a centimetre (.03937 of an inch) in diame- 

 ter, and graduated into cubic millimetres, until it was nearly full ; 

 tlje organic matter was then introduced, the tube filled with boil- 



