434 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



The author states that this solution serves not only as a decolo- 

 rizer, but to superoxidize several metals, especially iron. 



Ammoniacal cochineal may be employed to detect jo'op dth of 

 nitrous acid in a solution by its immediate decoloration. It is a 

 more special and certain reagent than the sulphate of iron. — Comptes 

 Rendtis, Fevrier 1851. ^______ 



ox THE COMPOSITION OF NULLIPORES AND SOME CORALLINES. 

 BY M. DAMOUR. 



Tlie author submits to the Academy the result of researches which 

 he commenced last year on the composition of certain marine orga- 

 nized bodies, known by the name of Nidlipores. These marine pro- 

 ductions, now classed with the Alg?e, at first sight resemble mineral 

 concretions. They assume various forms ; sometimes that of coral- 

 loid branches, cauliflowers, lichen, &c. They possess nearly the 

 colour, hardness, and tenacity of calcareous matter. They are 

 easily pulverized. When immersed in a weak acid, all the earthy 

 matter which they contain dissolves with effervescence ; there remains 

 a skeleton of organic vegetable matter, retaining precisely the form of 

 the original specimen, and presenting the cellular tissue peculiar to 

 the marine algfe. This organic matter exhales the peculiar allia- 

 ceous odour which characterizes marine vegetables. It is spongy 

 and nearly transparent, and is reduced to a very small bulk by drying. 

 Treated with solution of potash or soda, it does not dissolve either cold 

 or hot, but it becomes more transparent, and thus beliaves like most ve- 

 getable tissues. It burns with flame, and usuall)' leaves very little ash. 



The author states his obligation to MM. Deshayes and Michelin 

 for the first specimens which served for this examination. Lately 

 M. Decaisne supplied him with more, from the collection of the 

 Museum of Natural History, belonging to well-known species. 



The following table exhibits the results of the analyses of various 

 species : — 



