1866. | Entomology. 405 
On April 19, Professor G. C. Foster delivered a lecture “On 
the Thermal Phenomena accompanying Chemical Action ;” and 
papers “On Picric and Oxypicric Ethers” were communicated by 
Drs. Stenhouse and H. Miller. 
On May 3, Dr. J. H. Gladstone read some notes “On Pyro- 
phosphodiamic Acid;” and Mr. R. Warington, junior, gave an 
account of his “ Researches on the Phosphates of Calcium, and 
upon the Solubility of Tricalcic Phosphate.” The latter showed 
that the solubility of the Tricalcic Phosphate was much greater in 
water containing chloride of ammonium, or saturated with carbonic 
acid, than in pure water. 
At the meeting on May 17, several papers were read, of which 
we can only give the titles:—“On the Production of Acetic and 
Propionic Acids from Amylic Alcohol,” by Mr. E. T. Chapman ; 
“On the Oxidation of Ethylamine,” by Professor Wanklyn and Mr. 
K. T. Chapman; “On the Action of Acids on Napthylamine,” by 
Mr. Chapman. On the same evening Sir Robert Kane gave an 
account of “Some Derivatives of Acetone,” and the Rev. T. Gibsone 
gave the outline of a criticism of “ Dalton’s and Gay Lussac’s 
Formule for the Calculation of Vapour Densities.” Afterwards a 
paper, by Mr. Hadow, ‘‘ On the Nitro-prussides, their Composition 
and Manufacture,” was read. ‘The mode of manufacture proposed 
by the author is complicated, but its success was proved by a large 
and beautiful specimen of crystallized nitro-prusside of sodium 
exhibited at a previous meeting. For the production of this body 
the author first passes nitrous acid, formed by the action of nitric 
acid on starch, into a solution of caustic soda. A calculated quantity 
of this solution of nitrite of soda is then added to a mixture of acetic 
acid, ferridcyanide of potassium, and corrosive sublimate. A rather 
complicated reaction ensues, and the solution will contain nitro- 
prusside of sodium, cyanide of mercury, acetate and chloride of 
potassium, which may be separated by crystallization. 
V. ENTOMOLOGY. 
(Including the Proceedings of the Entomological Society.) 
Tue devastation of a species of white ant in St. Helena was the 
subject of a communication from Mr, E. L. Layard, made to the 
Entomological Society at its meeting in May. Introduced in 
timber from the west coast of Africa, about twenty years ago, it had 
latterly become so destructive as to threaten the ruin of James 
Town. Everything made of wood was destroyed ; the books of the 
public library had been devoured, the theological works being 
especially preferred, because, it is supposed, less used, and the 
