Analysis of Birdlime. 131 



The result of this interesting analysis is ; that the South 

 Sea manure is formed, 



1. Of uric acid, which forms the fourth part, and which 

 is partly saturated with ammonia and lime. 



2. Of oxalic acidj partly saturated with ammonia and pet- 

 tish. 



3. Of phosphoric acid, combined with' the same bases and 

 with lime. 



4. Of small quantities of sulphates and muriates of pot- 

 ash and ammonia, 



5. Of a little fatty matter. 



6. Of sand, partly quartz and partly iron. 



The existLUce of guano in the places where such multi- 

 tudes of birds assemble, the identity of its nature with that 

 of the excrements of aquatic Inrds, necessarily throw great 

 light upon the origin of this substance. 



Its analysis proves how well founded the ingenious natu- 

 ralist is in his opinion, to whom we arc indebted for our 

 knowledge of this substance, equally interesting to us as 

 useful to the inhabitants of Peru. The analysis, also, con- 

 firms the important discovery, which is the happy fruit of 

 the researches of Fourcroy and Vauquelin. In short, it has 

 the advantage of recalling this well known truth, that the 

 sciences mutually enrich each other, in aiding each other 

 with the various lights they possess ; and it furnishes a new 

 occasion to remark, that among all the sciences none havG a 

 more immediate and more necessary connection than che- 

 inistrv and natural history. 



XXIf. Analysis of Birdlime. By M. Bouillo>-- 

 Lagrange*. 



I. Origin and Mode of Prtparaiion. 



JL HE substance termed birdlime is classed among the im- 

 mediate products of vegetables. M. Fourcroy is the first 

 who regarded it as glutinous: he has placed it as a speeitS 



• Fro.ii the /drinlcs dc Cliimu; ton. IvL 



I a unckr 



