378 Bibliography. 
Cyanogen had been previously made solid by Bunsen ; the solid melts 
at —30°; one volume of the liquid gas at 63° gave 393:9 volumes at 
the same temperature, and the thermom. barometer 30°2 inches. This 
gives the specific gravity of the liquid as 0-866, if 100 cubic inches be 
considered as weighing 555 grains. Its tension at 0° is 1°25, at 32° 
2°37, at 103° 7-50 atmospheres. 
Ammonia may be obtained as a white, translucent, crystalline sub- 
stance, melting at 103° below 0°, at which point the solid is heavier 
than the liquid. The specific gravity of the liquid is 0531 at 60°. Its 
tension at 0° is 2°48, at 32° 4°44, at 60° 6:90, at 83° 10 atmospheres. 
Arseniuretted hydrogen was not solidified at — 166° ; chlorine, ether, 
alcohol, sulphuret of carbon, caoutchoucine, camphine or rectified oil 
of turpentine, did not freeze at —166°. Hydrogen oxygen, nitrogen, 
nitric oxide, carbonic oxide and coal gas, did not liquefy at —166°, when 
subjected to 27:27, 50°50, 40 and 32 atmospheres of pressure respect- 
ively. Hydrogen gas leaked freely at a pressure of twenty seven at- 
mospheres in an apparatus which was tight with nitrogen at 50 atmos- 
pheres. No degree of mere pressure has ever yet solidified a liquid, 
and when a greater degree of cold can be commanded than at present, 
(as may be done with nitrous oxide,) it is probable that other gases may 
be liquefied. 
3. On the Geological Constitution of the Altai; by M. P. de Tcut- 
HATCHEFF.—This elaborate memoir has been reported upon at length 
and with high commendation, before the Royal Academy of Sciences 
at Paris, by Brongniart, Dufrénoy and Elie de Beaumont, and their 
report is published in the Comptes Rendus, vol. xx, May, 1845. From 
its pages we cite the following. The Russian Altai chain occupies an 
area about four times that of Switzerland, and has a curving direction, 
with the convexity of the curve turned to the southwest. On the south, 
as Humboldt states, the older formations of the Asiatic continent prevail, 
while within the curvature there is a vast area of ancient diluvial de- 
posits. The chain as laid down by M. Tchihatcheff continues to the 
China coast, following the course of the river Yenissei. The general 
statement just made, for the most part holds true also of this eastern 
portion. The contour of the ridges is generally rounded, owing to 
the predominance of schistose rocks. Porphyry and granite are com- 
mon, and serpentine occurs in some places ; but gneiss is met with only as 
a variety of granite. The stratified rocks are mostly of the Silurian and 
older formations. The carboniferous formation was distinguished at 
three localities—near Rydersk, Tyrianoosk and Salair. M. Tchihat- 
cheff distinguishes two grand systems of ranges—one the occidental 
Altai, running from N. W. toS. E.; artd the other the oriental Altai, from 
N.E.toS.W. The highest peak, Belouhha, called also the columns of 
