i882. 135 Trans. N. Y. Ac. Set. 



separated ; while those containing minute cavities lay as a heap of 

 small fragments frozen together, in a coherent mass. This last 

 feature, while being a sad reminder in one respect, is of value to 

 science, since it shows conclusively the abundance of the fluid in- 

 cluded ; and also, what is of more importance, that this cementing ice 

 was formed either directly from the fluids in the crystals, or by influ- 

 ences which they exerted. I do not believe this cementing ice was 

 wholly formed by the freezing of the water contained in the cavities, 

 but was gathered there by the attractive influence of the liquid carbon 

 di-oxide upon being so suddenly set free ; that this liquid carbon di- 

 oxide did, by its natural affinity for moisture, create around it an 

 atmosphere so cold that even the little dampness then existing in the 

 air was congealed upon the crystal fragments. 



As the room was a dark one, I had all these masses and larger frag- 

 ments carried out and placed in the sunlight, for no other reason than 

 to examine them more carefully. I did not anticipate from this any 

 further developments of scientific interest. Again, believe my astonish- 

 ment, as soon as the rays of the sun touched them, to notice an ebullition 

 commence at once, which, strangely, could be heard a few feet away. 



I noticed in some of these masses a very distinct odor of sulphur- 

 etted hydrogen, which was quite fugitive in some of the pieces, while 

 constant in others. This ebullition was continued for over an hour, 

 growing less as thawing progressed. 



While holding a mass of frozen fragments, my hand would become 

 quite wet with the melting ice. I am not in error in stating that a 

 cub. cm. of this fluid could have been easily saved, had the proper 

 means been at hand. It is much to be regretted that none was pre 

 served. 



Mr. A. W. Wright, in a paper following that of Mr. Hawes, al- 

 ready referred to, gave some valuable data in regard to the composition 

 of fluid-inclusions in quartz. The following is a summary of his re- 

 sults : 



He found " that smoky quartz, on heating, entirely lost its color, and 

 that this color was due to the presence of a hydrocarbon of the nature 

 of bitumen." 



Aside from this bituminous matter, which is not known to be 

 specially connected with the cavities in the quartz, he obtains the fol- 

 lowing analysis : 



Carbon di-oxide 98-33 



Nitrogen 1-67 



with traces of sulphuret.ed hydrogen, sulphuric acid, ammonia, fluo- 

 rine and probably chlorine. 



The results of his investigations showed that the contents of these 



