Process for oltainlng pure Cobalt. 145 



seen at this place. On the Atlantic side of the United 

 States I am not able to trace them further than the " Alli- 

 gator Dismal Swamp", which is between Edenton and 

 Newbern in North-Carolina. The mouth of the Red River 

 in latitude 31''. 



VVithin the tract of country just mentioned, the alligator, 

 obeying the impulse of the climate, passes into the Torpid 

 state. In North-Carolina this takes place about the middle 

 of November, sooner or later according to the state of the 

 season. Whether the animal becomes torpid in more 

 southern parts of the continent I have not been able to 

 learn. On the river St. John, in East-Florida, they have 

 been seen awake even in the middle of winter, but it was 

 remarked that they seemed dull and stupid. It has also 

 been observed, that they are accustomed to frequent the 

 warm springs which are so abundant in this part of the 

 continent ■ and that they are fond of lying in these springs. 

 Perhaps the heat of these springs may be sufficient to pre- 

 vent them from becoming torpid. But it must be observed, 

 that a deficiency of heat is not the only cause of the torpid 

 condition of animals. 



It may not perhaps be an easy task to assign a satisfactory 

 cause for the singular instinctive appetite which leads the 

 alligator, before going into the torpid state, to swallow 

 pine-knots and other somewhat similar substances. But I 

 apprehend that these substances, when taken in by the 

 animal, act in some measure by keeping up a certain degree 

 of action in its stomach, and consequently in every part 

 of the system, and thereby prevents the death of the animal, 

 which might otherwise be destroyed by the long continued 

 application of cold. Some facts' mentioned by" Dr. Pallas, 

 though they respect a very different family of animals, ren- 

 der this conjecture not a little plausible*. 



This subject is worthy of more attention. In particular, 

 it will be well to inquire, whether the alligator does swallow 

 pine-knots, stones, &c., in those parts of America in which 

 it does not pass into the torpid state. 



XXXII. Process for oituiniiig pure Cobalt. By 

 M. TaoMSDORrFt- 



iVlix intimately four parts of zaffer, well pulverized, with 

 one part of nitrate of potash and a half part of charcoal in 



• Historia Glirium, &c. 



t Extracted from the Journal <ie Chimic of M. Gehlen by M. Darcet, aud 

 iji.friod in the Aniialrs tic Cliimic, No. 16'2. 



V'ol. 23. No. 90. Nov. 1805. K powder: 



