S^4 Scientific Intelligence — Zoology. 



rtiation is effected without either ^ain or loss of elements, and solely 

 by a simple change in the relation or the position of the elementary 

 atoms of the salt, so that the sub-phosphate of lime, the original com- 

 position of which is 8 C a 0, 3 P^ 0'\ is divided into two more per- 

 manent compounds, neutral phosphate and sub-sesquiphosphate, the 

 production of which is explained by the following equation : — 



8 C a 0, 3 P2 0' = (2 C a O, P' 0^) + 2 (3 C a 0, P' O'). 



It is very probable that it is the tendency of the sub-sesquiphos- 

 phate of lime to crystallize, which occasions its formation. Many facts 

 prove the mobility of the elements of phosphate of lime, and the pro- 

 perty which it possesses of undergoing slight changes in its constitu- 

 tion ; without these two circumstances, it could not, as observed by 

 Berzelius, perform the functions which render it so important in the 

 animal and vegetable economy. The crystals which form on the sur- 

 face of burnt bones are identical with the apatite of mineralogists. 



The authors were unable to detect the slightest trace of fluoride of 

 calcium in ancient human bones, whereas they always met with it in 

 fossil animal bones ; the existence of this salt in recent human and 

 animal bones is more than doubtful. MM. Berzelius and Morichini 

 are the only chemists who have stated its existence in recent bones. 

 Fourcroy and Vauquelin, Klaproth, Dr Kees, and the authors of this 

 paper, were not able to detect it in fresh bones, 



It follows from these introductory statements, that, at any rate, 

 the presence of fluoride of calcium, even if it ever exist in recent 

 bones, is accidental, and not constant, and that as this salt exists in 

 all fossil bones, it must necessarily have arisen by infiltration from 

 without, for neither mineralization nor fossilization has the power of 

 creating mineral substances. 



When, therefore, fluoride of calcium is found in notable quantity 

 in any unknown bone, it may be considered as a fossil bone of an 

 antediluvial animal, and not as a human bone. — Ann. de Ch. et de 

 Phys.y November 1843. Philosophical Magazine^ Vol. 24. No. 157, 

 p. 154. 



ZOOLOGY. 



4. The Geographical Distrilnition of the Articulated Animals. By 

 M. E. Blanchard. — The distribution of animals over the surface of 

 the globe has long attracted the attention of naturalists ; and that of 

 insects in particular has been made, by the celebrated Latreille, the 

 subject of a special work. At the period when this work was 

 undertaken, the native country of the greater part of the species was 



