394 On a Phenomenon developed in Chemical Action^ 



scribing. The great dissimilarity among the specimens seem* 

 to preclude the possibility c)f attributing their structure to or- 

 ganization, however strongly some of them may I'csemble it ; 

 and, after all, it may be that this arrangement is due to more 

 than one cause The first idea that suggested itself, with re- 

 spect to Nos. 7, 8 and 9, was the striking similarity to the ova- 

 rium of an animal, as already stated ; but this is a pursuit I 

 must leave to the comparative anatomist. He may find in the 

 threads by which these rounded masses are connected, more 

 uniformity than could be attributed to the accidental perfora- 

 tions of a worm; nor do I think the elegant and delicate moss- 

 like an*angement of the fibres with which they are surrounded, 

 seems likely to have accrued from any such operation ; and as 

 an organized connection has been pointed out, extending from 

 the siphunculus to the apex of the belemnite, perhaps more 

 practised eyes may be able to trace it further in these or other 

 specimens." 



ON A PHENOMENON DEVELOPED IN CHEMICAL ACTION, &C. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine. 



Matlock, 16th May. 



Insulated facts are not to be disregarded ; and future theory, 

 founded on the philosophy of Bacon, may successfully appro- 

 priate them. The following seem curious, and may be con- 

 nected with electro-chemical phenomena. 



When a fine copper wire is passed through a chip of cork,- 

 and allowed to float on nitric acid, the action will be seen most 

 active where it is in contact with the float. Both arms fall down- 

 simultaneously^ and evidence, not unfrequently afterwards, at- 

 tractive and repulsive play. 



Wlien a portion of the wire is made to suiround the peri- 

 phery of a slice cut from a cylindrical mass of cork, and the ex- 

 tremities of the wire are united by being twisted together, the 

 action will be soonest efficient at that jimction. In the same 

 instant that it snaps at this point, the wire gives way at the op- 

 posite side. The curvilinear wires fall together, and on being 

 examined will be found singularly grooved. 



The copper wire employed was about l-60th of an inch dia- 

 meter, and the cylindrical cork, whence the slice was obtained, 

 5-8ths of an inch. ■ 



I am unable to apprehend what your anoiiymous (a character 

 always suspicious) correspondent would have me to belicA-e. 

 Does he mean to say that the zinc, freely suspended, vibrates; 

 in the magnetic plane, and advances eastward or westward, in 



the 



