Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 411 



M. Desjardin by Mr. Lyell, has proved, that there are not 10 per 

 cent, of species identical with shells of the crag ; but an examination 

 of the same series by Mr. G. Sowerby and the author has led to the 

 conclusion, that the recent species are in the proportion of 26 per 

 cent. Mr. Lyell, therefore, now accedes to the opinion of M. Des- 

 noyers, that the red and coralline crag may correspond in age, ge- 

 nerally, with the faluns of Touraine ; and he is of opinion that the 

 difference in the character of the two Faunas may be explained by 

 there having existed at that epoch, a more equable climate, similar 

 to the one experienced at present on the east coast of South 

 America, where, in lat. 39°, occur, in a living state, a large Oliva, a 

 Voluta, and a T erebra ; and that a geographical barrier, like that of 

 the Isthmus of Suez, which separates the widely different Faunas of 

 the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, may have intervened between 

 the region of the crag and the faluns of Touraine. 



The paper concludes with a list of the testacea of the Norwich 

 crag, determined by the author, Mr. S. Wood, and Mr. G. Sowerby*. 



M, 



LXI. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 



PRESENCE OF IODINE IN COAL FORMATIONS. 



BUSSY states that on examining some mineral specimens ob- 

 • tained from a coal mine in a state of combustion at Commen- 

 try (Allier), he ascertained the presence of ammonia and iodine. Ha- 

 ving at first observed indications of iodine in some of the specimens, he 

 was afterwards unable to detect it. The iodine was in the state of 

 hydriodate of ammonia, and the acid had left the alkali. As to the 

 origin of this element, M. Bussy supposes that it exists in the bowels 

 of the earth in the state of iodide of potassium, and that it is disen- 

 gaged in the state of vapour by subterraneous heat. It is well known 

 that ammonia is one of the constant products of the distillation of 

 coal ; but the presence of iodine in coal formations is a new fact, 

 worthy of being noticed. — L'Institut, July, 1839. 



PREPARATION OF CHLOROSALTS. BY M. FILHOL. 



When chloride of iodine and an alkaline chloride are mixed, a 

 chlorosalt is formed ; this is proved by the following reactions : — 



1st. If a mixture of iodide of potassium and chlorate of potash be 

 treated with hydro- chloric acid, the chlorine, iodine, and potassium, 

 simultaneously come into contact ; and when the solution is finished, 

 the potassium chlorosalt is obtained on cooling ; it may however 

 happen that an excess of chlorine may prevent regular crystalliza- 

 tion ; very beautiful specimens of the salt may however be obtained. 



2nd. If instead of the above-described process there be made a 



* The memoir is printed in the Magazine of Natural History for July, 1839. 

 [Mr. Charlesworth's papers, referred to in Mr. Ly ell's memoir, will be 

 found in Lond. and Edinb. Phil. Mag. vol. vii. p. 81, 464; viii. 529; x. 1. 

 Edit.] 



