78 Dr Jacob (m the Iiifra-orbital Cavities 



leaf; within this, and arranged concentrically, are four or five 

 laminae, having a coriaceous appearance; these seem to be 

 soaked with the dark brown matter which constitutes the gieat 

 bulk of the mass. The thickness of these membranous cover- 

 ings is altogether about a line and half. The matter contained 

 within this covering is of a dark reddish-brown colour, resem- 

 bling indurated cerumen, and consisting apparently of a number 

 of fine hairs matted together by a substance of an oleo-resinous 

 appearance. This substance in one specimen was viscid and 

 tenacious, and of the consistence of common turpentine; while 

 in another it was more friable. Both exhaled a most peculiar 

 odour resembling soft soap made with fish oil, but slightly pun- 

 gent and aromatic. The more friable specimen had the smell 

 of kreosote when much diluted. The specific gravity of the 

 large mass was 1.081. The material has a slightly bitter taste, 

 but does net dissolve in the mouth, and imparts a very slight 

 greasy stain to paper. When heated it swells, grows darker in 

 colour, and undergoes a partial fusion ; and if the heat be in- 

 creased it takes fire, and burns with a bright flame and much 

 smoke, leaving behind a greyish-white ash. A fragment di- 

 gested with five successive portions of water, imparted to them 

 the peculiar odour of the substance, which was, however, dissi- 

 pated by evaporation. It appears therefore to contain a volatile 

 odorous principle, which is so intimately combined with the 

 other principles present, that even after digestion in the above- 

 mentioned number of waters, the residuum, which was but little 

 acted on, possessed its peculiar odour nearly as strongly as be- 

 fore. The aqueous solution afforded on evaporation a brownish 

 extractive matter, with which nitrate of silver gave a copious 

 precipitate of chloride of silver ; and oxalate of ammonia indi- 

 cated a salt of lime, most probably lactate. Another portion 

 digested in aether coloured it yellow, and the solution on evapo- 

 ration furnished a yellowish-brown transparent substance, very 

 viscid and tenacious at ordinary temperatures, very readily fu- 

 sible, and exceedingly soluble in caustic potash ; immediately 

 on uniting with which, it exhales strongly the smell of fish-oil 

 soap. This solution is miscible with water without decompo- 

 sition ; acids precipitate a white matter, and when, subsequent 

 to the addition of acid, the mixture is heated, an oily looking 



