Comparative Analysis of Beceni and Fossil Bones. 287 



76'79 per cent. ; carbonate of lime, 7*40; phosphate and peroxide 

 of iron, 8*67 ; fluoride of calcium, 4*85 ; carbonate of magnesia, 

 1-76 ; silica, 1-50. 



The above are analyses of a few of several specimens furnished to 

 me by Dr Falconer, a gentleman whose love of science and perse- 

 verance in its cause are only equalled by the cordiality with which 

 he encourages and assists others engaged in scientific pursuits. 



Sixth, Iguanodon of the Wealden — phosphate of lime, 35*35 per 

 cent.; carbonate of lime, 19*59; fluoride of calcium, 11*51; in- 

 soluble silicates, 8*75 ; chloride of sodium, 1*26; soda, 2*50; mag- 

 nesia and chloride of magnesium, 3*50 ; alumina and peroxide of iron. 

 6-91 ; organic, 10*71. 



Seventh, Recent shells— carbonate of lime, 99*01 per cent.; 

 chloride of sodium, 0*20 ; fluoride of calcium,* tissue and loss, 0-79. 



Eighth, Sea urchin of the Miocene from Malta — carbonate of 

 lime, 98*12 per cent. ; chloride of sodium, 0*48 ; insoluble silicates, 

 0*80 ; fluoride of calcium, 0*55. 



For the interesting subjects, of which the following are analyses, 

 I am indebted to the kindness and courtesy of the authorities of 

 University College. It will be readily seen how important they 

 were to the investigations with which I set out, as also how directly 

 they bear upon the truth to which my investigations led me, viz. 

 *' that fluorine in fossil bones is a product of infiltration." 



The fir.st of these analyses, and the ninth in order, is that of a 

 Greek skull, its age being about 2000 years, as indicated by a coin 

 found under the jaw, and which, according to usage, had no doubt 

 been placed in the mouth of a corpse previous to burial. The bone 

 had so far assumed a fossil character as to bo friable ; easily pul- 

 verized in a mortar, and having a faintly pinkish tint, due to the 

 presence of the peroxide of iron. The following were found to be 

 its constituents : — 



Phosphate of lime, 70-01 per cent. ; carbonate of lime, 10*34 per 

 cent. ; fluoride of calcium, 5*04 ; organic matter, 9*97 ; insoluble 

 acids, 1*68 ; soda and chloride of sodium, 1*15 ; phosphate of mag- 

 nesia, 1*34 ; peroxide of iron a small quantity. 



Tenth, Skull of an Egyptian mummy — organic matter, 38-50f 

 per cent. ; phosphate of lime, 5076 ; carbonate of lime, 6*01 ; 

 fluoride of calcium, 2*35; phosphate of magnesia, 1*14; soda and 

 chloride of sodium, 1'12. 



Eleventh, Analysis of a portion of a skull lately recovered from 

 the wreck of the Royal George. This bone had undergone but little 



* The quantity too small for estimation. 



t I can only account for the large proportion of organic matter, and 

 the small proportion of carbonate of lime, by supposing them to be the 

 results of the process of embalming. 



VOL. XXXVII. NO. LXXIV. OCTOBER 1844. T 



