Organic Remains of Burdiehouse. 287 
A portion from a different part of this panel yielded 84.17 
per cent. of phosphate of lime. 
It thus appears that the proportion of phosphate of lime, the 
principal constituent of these remains, is pretty uniform, in so 
far as the examination extended. A little variation occurs in 
the relative quantity of the other constituents. Of these last, 
the bituminous matter is certainly derived from the matrix ; and 
it seems probable that the proportion of the carbonate of lime is 
also slightly influenced by the limestone, as I shall afterwards have 
occasion to shew. The proportion of phosphate of lime is much 
greater than in the lias coprolites, in which it appeared to vary, 
according to Dr Prout, from only jth to 3ths of the whole: 
whereas in those of Burdiehouse it amounts to about “ths * 
On finding the bituminous matter in the coprolites, I sub- 
jected the limestone to the same process, to separate the bitumen 
from it. A portion of the limestone matrix of the coprolite 
first analyzed was dissolved in diluted muriatic acid, and the 
undissolved dark flocky matter collected on a filter, washed, 
and dried at the temperature of 212°. It then contained one- 
half of earthy matter, and hence was not so black and glossy as 
that from the coprolites, nor did it fuse on the application of 
heat ; but, when heated in the open air with the contact of 
flame, it took fire and burned with flame; and, when heated in a 
* With reference to an analysis lately published by Dr Grecory and Mr 
Wa ker, (Edin. New Phil. Jour., Jan. 1835,) of a coprolite described as embedded 
ina rolled mass of clay-iron from Burdiehouse, it is necessary to observe, that this 
coprolite appears to have been extremely impure, containing only 10 per cent. of 
phosphate of lime, and much foreign matter, such as sulphuret of iron, and large 
quantities of carbonates of lime and magnesia. It is essential, therefore, to draw 
a marked line of distinction between coprolites in ironstone or shale, and those di- 
rectly embedded in the limestone of Burdiehouse, to which last alone my analyses 
refer. I have seen coprolites from the shale of Burdiehouse, but I have never hap- 
pened to see any from that locality, either in ironstone or in rolled masses. 
3 
