Sadtler and McCarter.] lob [Feb. 7, 



obtained what appeared to be three distinct crystallizations here — two of 

 deep red crystals and one of brown plates. These were picked apart as 

 I hey crystallized together, using a hand lens, and exercising great care, and 

 ■wen; then submitted to recry stall izat ion s until quite pure and distinct. On 

 breaking up these picric acid compounds with dilute ammonia, we obtained 

 at least two well-marked and distinctly different hydrocarbons. With re- 

 gard to the hydrocarbon from the third set of crystals we are still in doubt. 



Of the two hydrocarbons, one fuses constant at 280°C, and the other at 

 178^0. We are not able to identify them certainly with any of the known 

 hydrocarbons. 



Of both of these hydrocarbons, quinones have been made, and of one of 

 them the alizarine, acting upon the quinone with strong sulphuric acid with 

 heat, and then fusing the dried residue with solid potassium hydrate. The 

 quinone dissolves in sulphuric acid with a dark purple color, and when the 

 nearly black residue of di-sulphoquinonic acid and potassium hydrate are 

 fused together, a dark yellowish-brown color is obtained. From the solu- 

 tion of this, hydrochloric acid precipitates the alizarine as a dark brown 

 llocculent mass. 



Several analyses of the quinone and of the alizarine were made. As I 

 hold the whole subject still open to revision, I will not quote them, but 

 merely say that both the quinone and the alizarine derived from the hydro- 

 carbon, fusing at 280°C, indicate a probable composition C 16 II H . This 

 would be a dimethyl-anthracene, jet the hydrocarbon does not agree with 

 the dimethyl-anthracene discovered by Van Dorp, and studied by Wachen- 

 dorf and Zincke. 



With this brief mention of the work done, we Avill defer any further dis- 

 cussion until our results are sufficiently advanced to be presented as a 

 whole. We are now engaged upon the work, and will push it promptly to 

 a completion. 



Character of some Sullivan County Coals. By Franklin Piatt. 



{Read before the American Philosophical Society, February 1th, 1879.) 



It has already been noted in giving the detailed description of the coal 

 openings in Sullivan county, that the different coals mined presented wide 

 differences in character, and in one or two instances offered some most un 

 usual features.* 



These characteristics may be briefly summed thus : f 



* See unpublished Report of Progress, Second Geological Survey of Pennsyl- 

 \ anla, < ;< ;. 



t See l he analyses made by Mr. A. S. McCreath, Chemist of the Survey at Har- 

 risburg, given below. 



