104 



when freely exposed to moisture and atmospheric air, gave 

 out carbonic acid gas ; that from careful analyses, which had 

 been performed, of decayed wood, it would seem that such 

 wood contained more carbon relatively to oxygen and hy- 

 drogen, than wood which had not undergone decay, but that 

 the oxygen and hydrogen were still, as in sound wood, in the 

 exact proportions to form water. In cases, however, where 

 woody matter had undergone change, with imperfect access 

 of atmospheric air, moisture still being present, carbonic 

 acid gas was evolved ; analyses, however, showed that such 

 wood contained more carbon, relatively to the oxygen and 

 hydrogen, than sound wood, but the hydrogen was in larger 

 proportion than that required to form water with the oxygen. 

 Analyses of wood coal had shown this to be the case. It 

 was further stated, that woody fibre, when exposed to a high 

 temperature, and corresponding pressure, assumed the dark 

 brown colour of wood coal, and possessed the same chemical 

 composition. The analyses of the altered woody matter at 

 Leasowe, would probably assist in forming an opinion as to 

 whether the carbonised material was of old or of recent for- 

 mation, and probably as to the circumstances under which 

 it was produced. 



A large horn was purchased from a labouring man in 

 the vicinity, said to have been procured near the surface of the 

 sand below high water mark, at a place where, compara- 

 tively recently, there was a superincumbent mass of earth, 

 of the depth of several feet. It was partially fossilized, and 

 from its indications, compared with the account given, there 

 could be no doubt of the substantial correctness of the 

 latter. Mr. Archer observed that the shell by which the 

 wood was perforated, was the Pholas candidus. It had 

 been a matter of much discussion amongst naturalists, 

 whether in shells of this genus the boring process was 

 effected by mechanical means, exercised by the animal, or 

 whether it was due to some chemical agent which pos- 



