Royal Academy of Sciences of Paris. 139 



there is no insect among them that might not be found in a moist 

 wood. The antennae, tarsi, and otlier parts by which the characters 

 would be best distinguished, are often wanting ; yet enough cha- 

 racters frequently remain even then to distinguish the genus. The 

 sculpture, and even some degree of colouring, are preserved in several 

 specimens. The wings of some beetles are extended beyond the 

 elytra, showing that when they perished, they were flying, or attempt- 

 ing to escape by flight. 



A collection of fossil vegetables, from the Northumberland and Dur- 

 ham coal-field, was exhibited at this meeting, and presented to the 

 Society by William Hutton, Esq., of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, F.G.S.; 

 with a catalogue describing the plants, according to the systems of 

 M. Ad. Brongniart and Mr. Artis. The collection consisted of spe- 

 cimens of Calamites, Sagenaria, Filicites, Myriophyllites, Asterio- 

 phyllites and Sphaenophyllites. 



At the close of this Meeting, which terminated the session, the 

 Society adjourned till Friday evening the 6th of November. 



ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF PARIS. 



August 4, 1828. — The Minister of the Interior sent the ordon- 

 nance of the King, by which the Academy was authorized to accept 

 the legacy of the fine library left by the late M. Gallois. — M. Richard 

 Vaux, of Toul, sent a memoir on nervous action. — M. Guilbert an- 

 nounced his discovery of an instrument, by the assistance of which 

 the size of stones contained in the bladder might be ascertained. — M, 

 Bussy deposited a sealed packet. 



A commission consisting of MM. Vauquelin, Thenard, the Duke of 

 Ragusa, Cordier, and Beudant, made the report desired by the Mi- 

 nister of War, respecting M. Longchamp's theory of nitrification. This 

 report, which was very long, was terminated by the following conclu- 

 sions, which were adopted by the Academy. 



1st. As to the theoretical part, we find that M. Longchamphas ex- 

 pressed an idea long since announced, namely, that nitric acid is formed 

 without the assistance of animal matter; but the facts which he has cited 

 are not sufficient to establish it with certainty. We find also that the 

 assertion which he has made, that nitric acid is formed entirely by the 

 elements of the atmosphere, is not correct ; for it has been demon- 

 strated that animal matter has great influence on this formation. 



2dly. With respect to oeconomical considerations, we see nothing 

 in the opinions of M. Longchamp which gives us any hope of obtain- 

 ing nitre at a clicapcr rate, even supposing it to be produced in the 

 manner which he imagines. If new experiments are to be made, it 

 ought to be done under less favourable circumstances, that is to say, 

 without the assistance of tliose materials which are acknowledged to 

 possess great influence, and witliout which we do find nitrates formed 

 in our establishments. We are of opinion that theoretical considera- 

 tions only would induce a repetition of the exjjeriments jjroposed by 

 M. Longchamp. It would certainly be a curious fact in science, to 

 find tliat nitric acid is formed under the circumstances indicated by 

 this chemist. 



T 2 The 



