Intellige?ice and Miscellaneous Articles, 237 



conditions favourable to its formation are fulfilled, for the water con- 

 verts the bichloride of chrome into chromic and muriatic acid. If 

 neutral chromate of potash be used instead of the bichromate, the 

 crystals obtained are mixed with crystals of chloride of potassium. 



The following process of analysis was preferred and employed 

 on account of its simplicity : — A portion of the salt, dried between 

 the folds of blotting paper, was dissolved in distilled water acidified 

 by nitric acid, and nitrate of silver was then gradually added, and 

 the chloride obtained was washed, dried and weighed. The liquor, 

 after the separation of the chloride of silver, was boiled with sul- 

 phurous acid; this converts the chromic acid into protoxide of 

 chrome, and is itself converted into sulphuric acid : ammonia then 

 precipitates protoxide of chrome by long boiling. The potash was 

 then converted into sulphate by means of sulphuric acid, and its 

 quantity thus determined. 



The bichromate of muriate of ammonia resembles that of chlo- 

 ride of potassium in appearance and crystalline form, but it is much 

 more soluble in water. By analysis it yielded — 



Chromic acid 65'5 



Muriatic acid 23*5 



Ammonia 108 



998 

 M. Peligot found that the bichromates of the chlorides of sodium, 

 calcium, and magnesium were deliquescent : he was unable to pro- 

 cure the bichromates of the chlorides of strontium and barium, on 

 account of the precipitation of their salts from water by the muri- 

 atic acid. — Ann. de Chim. et de Phys. lii. 267. 



ON FOSSIL-BONE CAVERNS. 



M. Tournal, jun., of Narbonne, concludes from a great variety of 

 facts and observations, that, 



1st, The bones buried in caverns have been introduced in several 

 different manners. 



2ndly, The species buried vary in different localities ; and this 

 difference depends either upon the period of deposition or the geo- 

 graphical position of the cavern. 



3rdly, Man was contemporary with the lost species of animals 

 which are found buried in the mud of the caverns ; and these animals 

 being regarded by all naturalists as fossil, man therefore exists in 

 the fossil state. 



4thly, The mud and pebbles found in the bone caves were not in- 

 troduced by any sudden and temporary cause, as by a deluge, but 

 on the contrary, almost always slowly, and in several different 

 modes. 



5thly, The attentive examination of the pebbles contained in the 

 mud proves evidently that they have been introduced from neigh- 

 bouring places, and consequently, that the cause which conveyed 

 them was entirely local. 



