Geological Society. 235 
The first base, separated by the action of anhydrous baryta from 
the dry bromide, distils as an oily liquid of a powerfully ammoniacal 
odour, which solidifies into a brittle crystalline mass not unlike 
fused stearic acid. The composition of the body is remarkable. 
It contains 
(C, H,)" ” 
Cf | sees N, 0,.= (C, ;); N, O,, 
H 
4 
and thus constitutes the dioxide of the diatomic metal, ethylene- 
diethyl-diammonium. 
The second base is liquid, and boils at 185°. It is easily obtained 
from the dibromide, which, being extremely soluble, may be readily 
separated from the bromide of the first body. I have experimentally 
established that this body may be readily procured by the action of 
dibromide of ethylene upon the dioxide previously mentioned. 
The dioxide, 
C,, Bj N, O,, 
presents considerable interest in a theoretical point of view. I have 
determined the vapour-density of this compound by Gay-Lussac’s 
process. Experiment gave the number 2°26. Assuming that the 
molecule of the body under examination corresponds to 4 volumes 
of vapour, the theoretical density is 4°62. 
The extraordinary discrepancy between theory and experiment 
may be removed in two ways: viz. either by halving the formula, 
or by assuming that the molecule of the dioxide of ethylene-diethyl- 
diammonium corresponds to 8 volumes of vapour, in either of which 
cases the theoretical density becomes 2°31, closely agreeing with the 
experimental number 2°26. 
I shall discuss the vapour-densities of the diammonias somewhat 
more fully in a future communication; but I cannot refrain from 
pointing out even now, that, by dividing the formula by 2, we arrive 
at an expression containing 1 equiv. of oxygen (O=8), which, in the 
eyes of those who consider the number 16 as the true molecular 
value of oxygen, must appear perfectly inadmissible. 
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
[Continued from p, 162.] 
January 18, 1860.—Sir C. Lyell, Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The following communications were read :— 
1. “Notice of some Sections of the Strata near Oxford.” By 
John Phillips, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., Pres. G.S. &c. 
From the Yorkshire coast to that of Dorset, evidence of uncon- 
formity between the Oolitic and the Cretaceous strata is readily 
observed, the latter resting on several different members of the 
former along this tract. This is especially seen in the neighbour- 
