34-8 Opiniun of M. Cuvier 



aether was formed ; but nearly the whole of the original al- 

 cohol and sulphuric acid were recovered. It may be a ques- 

 tion whether the production of alcohol and aether in those and 

 similar experiments is altogether determined by the proportion 

 of water present, or whether the difference of temperature 

 consequent upon its variation may not have an effect. 



When aether and sulphuric acid are heated together, oil of 

 wine and sulphovinic acid are amongst the products obtained ; 

 and as this sulphovinic acid is readily converted when diluted 

 into alcohol and sulphuric acid, so it affords a method of 

 converting aether into alcohol : thus aether may be formed 

 from alcohol, and alcohol from aether at pleasure, by throwing 

 the hydrocarbon of these bodies into that peculiar state which 

 it assumes when combined with sulphuric acid in sulphovinic 

 acid. We may even proceed beyond this, and form either 

 alcohol or iEther, using olefiant gas as the hydro-carbon base : 

 for I have shown in mj' last paper, that olefiant gas by com- 

 bining with sulphuric acid, forms sulphovinic acid, and the 

 acid so produced forms either aether or alcohol, according to 

 circumstances which are under perfect command. 



It can hardly be necessary to refer to the extraordinary re- 

 mark at the end of MM. Dumas and BouUay's second paper, 

 except to state that it is singularly at variance with the fiicts 

 and opinions given thi'oughout the former part of that and the 

 preceding paper by the same authors. Those persons who 

 read both papers, and also those of Mr. Faraday and myself, 

 which were published long before the appearance of the former, 

 will be able to decide without further comment from whom the 

 particular views contained in those papers first emanated. 

 Apothecaries' Hall. H. HennELL. 



LV. On the right Use of Generic Names in Natural History f 

 according to the Oj)ifiions of MM. Cuvier and DeCandoUe. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Annals. 

 Gentlemen, 

 TN the discussion, respecting the introduction and use of 

 -*■ the generic names in Zoology, which has lately occupied 

 some pages of your Magazine*, and which has been termecl the 

 breaking up the established genera of the older naturalists, 

 especially of those of Linna;us ; it appears to me that the parties 

 to this controversy have entirely overlooked the purposes for 

 which the new names were invented, and to which they were 

 intended to be applied. 



* Vol. iii. p. 313, and vol. vi. p. 199. 



M. Cuvier, 



