Geological Society. 375 



the exit-pipes of which were immersed in water to the depth 

 of 3 inches. During the process, at three different periods, 

 100 cubic inches of the gas were passed through desiccating 

 tubes, 1 7 inches long and half an inch in diameter, containing 

 chloride of calcium, and on each occasion, for every 100 cu- 

 bic inches, calculated as dry carbonic acid at a temperature 

 of 52°, 0*425 grain increase of weight was obtained, due to 

 the absorption of watery vapour. 



181 barrels of porter wort fermented in the same vessel; 

 the pipes being immersed 3 feet, gave the following result. 

 For every 100 cubic inches, calculated as dry carbonic acid 

 at a temperature of 52°, only 0*20 grain of vapour was ab- 

 sorbed. It would appear therefore that the vapour of water 

 given off during the process of fermentation bears directly on 

 the proportion of alcohol carried away with the carbonic acid 

 gas. If the simplicity of the arrangement is a ground for its 

 recommendation, it must be evident that the foregoing appa- 

 ratus would claim the attention of those conversant with the 

 present system, as furnishing to the brewer a better control 

 over his fermenting tuns, and the production of a stronger 

 beverage from his worts. 



I have much pleasure in acknowledging the material as- 

 sistance afforded me by my friend Mr. Robert Warington in 

 these investigations. 



LVII. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 

 [Continued from p. 313.] 

 May 10. A PAPER was read "On some new Ganoid Fishes." By 

 1843. xTl Sir Philip Grey Egerton, M.P., F.G.S.* 



The specific characters of the fishes described are as follows : — 



1. Semionotus Pentlandi, Egerton. — Body deep; pedicle of the tail 

 thicker proportionally than in Semionotus latus. Anal fin long, with 

 5 or 6 rays, articulated, subdivided, and decreasing in length from 

 the first. Bases distant ; 3 or 4 fulcral rays on the margin. Caudal 

 fin large ; upper lobe invested with scales for some distance. Mar- 

 gins fringed by elongated imbricated scales. Rays : 20, articulated, 

 subdivided. Bases at greater intervals near the centre. Scales 

 rhomboidal, smooth, with entire margins. Stratum, Lias. 



Found by Mr. Pentland in a black bituminous schist at Giffoni, 

 near Castell-a-Mare. In the cabinets of the Earl of Enniskillen and 

 Sir Philip Egerton. 



Of the six species of Semionotus described by Professor Agassiz, 

 one is from the quader-sandstein, the other five from the lias of 

 Lufeld, Boll, Lyme Regis, and Schoven in Sweden. From a com- 

 parison of Mr. Pentland's specimens of this and the two following 



* This abstract is now inserted, having been omitted in its proper place. 



