1835.] Scientific Intelligence. 77 



II. — Fresh Water formation in Gyeece with Lignites. By 

 M.Theodore Virlet. (Annales des Sciences Naturelles, 

 torn. xxx. 160.) 



In 1830 a report was very generally spread of the discovery of coal 

 in Greece. M. Theodore Virlet, who was in that country soon after 

 the coal was said to have been observed, proceeded to the spot for the 

 purpose of examining into the truth of the report. He visited the 

 Sporades Septentrionales or Devil's Archipelago, situated at the 

 mouth of the Gulfs of Voloand Salonica, near the coasts of Thessaly 

 and Macedonia, where it was said coal existed. He found the islands 

 of Skiathos, Skanzoura, and Diodelphia to consist of primitive rocks, 

 those of Xero, Xera, Panagia, Jaoura, Piperi, &c. to belong to a 

 calcareous formation. In the island of Skopelos the latter rests on 

 clay slate, and in some respects agrees with the transition limestone, 

 but the existence of a number of fossils and especially Hippurites 

 semicostellata, proves its distinct nature. Tornatella prisca, and 

 Turritella antiqua Desh are likewise met with. 



Iliodroma is a long, narrow, mountainous island which consists of 

 three formations : 1. Mica-slate, clay-slate and limestone. 2. Blue 

 and grey limestone. 3. A fresh water tertiary formation containing 

 lignites which occupies half of the surface of the island, and was mis- 

 taken for coal. The lower portion is situated 200 or 300 metres above 

 the sea, and is constituted of blue or green marls with a great deposit 

 of fresh water and land shells belonging chiefly to the genera Planor- 

 biSjPaludina, Helix. Over these marls lie thin strata of marly lime- 

 stone without fossils, but containing an irregular bed about 2 feet 

 (Paris) thick of lignite, in general mixed with clay and shells. Above 

 the lignite grey marls occur, filled with the debris of fossil vegetables. 

 The whole of the formation is about 190 English feet in thickness. 

 Among the fossils obtained from this formation, the most numerous 

 belonged to what M. Adolphe Brongniart who examined it, has 

 termed Taxodium Europeeum. It has also been found at Como- 

 thau in Bohemia, and at CEningen near the lake of Constance. It 

 belongs to the order Corniferae, and is characterized by long slender 

 branches, subglobose cones, with leaves spiral or sometimes arranged 

 in three rows. 



Virlet considers this formation more ancient than that of CEningen, 

 and contemporaneous with the dislocation of strata which produced 

 the Dardanelles, and with the corresponding formation in Switzer- 

 land, and the marine deposit of Gompholites in the Morea. 



III. — Oil extracted from the Spirit of Wine of Potatoes. 



By M.J. Dumas. (Ann. de Chimie, lvi.314.) 

 Previous to rectification, spirit of wine whether it be obtained 

 from malt or potatoes, possesses a peculiar taste and smell which is 

 removed by distillation frequently repeated. It has been long known 

 that these properties depend on a peculiar oil, and its presence was 

 first detected by Scheele. Fourcroy and Vauquelin proved that the 

 oil was not a product of fermentation, but that it existed in grain 

 and could be separated by treating it with water, and taking up the 



