(2) 
was obtained into the nature of these amalgams. Mr. Bir has now 
brought this investigation to a provisional conclusion and obtained 
the following results. 
321 Cadmium and mercury are mis- 
cible in all proportions when in 
a liquid state at a sufficiently 
high temperature. From these 
fused mixtures crystals are depos- 
1sscited on cooling which are repre- 
sented in Fig. 1 by the two 
curves AC and CB. The first 
runs from A = — 40°, the mel- 
ting point of mercury, to C= 188°; 
the second from this point to 
B= 321°, the melting point of 
cadmium. The two curves meet 
He pa ca at C forming an angle. Both the 
Fig. 1. curves which have been determined 
by the thermometric and by the dilatometric method, indicate the 
points at which solidifications begins. 
None of the liquid amalgams, however, solidify completely at a 
constant temperature; solidification always takes place through a 
larger or smaller range of temperatures. The end of this could not 
be sharply defined thermometrically, but on the other hand the com- 
mencement of the fusion of the amalgams which had become solidi- 
fied by sufficient cooling could be determined dilatometricaily. 
In this manner the lines A LE, ED and D B were obtained as 
final solidifying, or commencing melting points. From this it appears 
that the whole solidifying figure belongs to the type of one of the 
cases which I have formerly distinguished in the systems of two 
substances which on solidifying yield exclusively mixed crystals. 
The lines AE and DB represent the two possible series of mixed 
crystals. At 188° they follow each other with a comparatively small 
hiatus between ME and /, which points correspond approximately 
with 75 and 77 atoms of cadmium per 100 atoms of the mixture. 
The following change must therefore take place when heat is added 
at 188°: 
mixed crystals W — liquid C + mixed crystals D 
and the reverse on withdrawing heat. 
As the point C is situated at 67 percent, all the amalgams below 
