1818.] Scientific Intelligence. 467 



left a carbonaceous residuum. The author remarks, that the 

 existence of chrome in this mineral seems to connect it with the 

 aerolites, but the origin of the combustible substance is very- 

 obscure ; there were no circumstances connected with the phe- 

 nomenon which would lead us to suppose that it was of volcanic 



ons-in. 



V. Redness of the Sea. 



The following account of the red colour of the sea on the 

 coast of Africa, near the mouth of the river Loango, is extracted 

 from Professor Smith's journal. 



" Some days ago the sea had a colour as of blood. Some of 

 us supposed it to be owing to the whales, which at this time 

 approach the coasts in order to bring forth their young. It is, 

 however, a phenomenon which is generally known, has often 

 been described, and is owing to myriads of infused animal- 

 cuke. I examined some of them taken in this blood-coloured 

 water; when highly magnified, they do not appear larger than 

 the head of a small pin. They were at first in rapid motion, 

 which, however, soon ceased, and at the same instant the whole 

 animal separated into a number of spherical particles." 



VI. Coal Gas employed for the Blow-pipe. 



We are informed that M. Lampadius, on making use of the 

 gas blow-pipe, has found the heat which is produced by the 

 combustion of oxygen with carburetted hydrogen procured 

 from coal, to be more intense than that with pure hydrogen. — 

 (Journ. Phys. for Jan. 1818.) 



VII. Supposed Discovery of a Ship near the Cape of Good Hope. 



A discovery has been lately made of a quantity of wood in a 

 carbonized state, buried at some depth under the sand, about 10 

 miles from Cape Town. From the appearance and position of 

 pieces of timber, it has been supposed to consist of the frame- 

 work of a large vessel ; and as it is at a considerable distance 

 from the sea, and bears every mark of having been in its present 

 position for a very long period, many speculations have been formed 

 concerning it. The evidence on this point appears, however, to 

 be extremely vague and uncertain ; and from the specimens of 

 the wood which have been exhibited in this country, which 

 appear to be in the state of brown coal, as well as from all the 

 circumstances of the case, it is probable that it does not differ 

 from the forests, or collections of trees which have been found 

 buried in different situations, in consequence of some of the 

 it revolutions which have formerly occurred on the surface of 

 our globe. 



VIII. On Cholesterine and the Cholesteric Acid. 



Poulletier de la Salle first distinctly noticed the laminated 

 matter which is frequently found in human biliary calculi ; 



2 g 2 



