Smithsonian Report, 1913. — Devaux. 



Plate 5. 



Final Nearly C) Stable State Reached After 10 to 15 Seconds. 



The oil film seems reduced to a cloud of fine droplets scattered over the water. In reality, a very 

 thin continuous oil film exists between the droplets. The figure of equilibrium of oil on water 

 is therefore discontinuous. (') I say "nearly" because the drops are still undergoing small 

 displacements; they are approaching each other and fusing into larger droplets. This fusion 

 is often hindered by an increasing viscosity, leading to an apparent solidification of the oil in 

 contact with the air. 



