68 Scientific Intelligence. (Jan. 
LINNEAN SOCIETY. 
Nov.3.—A paper, by Dr. Leach, was read, on the Cymothoada, 
a family of Crustacea, with Sessile eyes. 
Nov. 17.—The Society met; but adjourned immediately on 
account of the death of the Queen. 
Dec. 15.—A paper, by Joseph Sabine, Esq. F.RS. and F.LS. 
was read, containing an account and description of a new species 
of Gull (Larus Sabini), lately discovered on the west coast of 
Greenland, and which is characterized by having a furcate tail, 
like the Tern. 
At this meeting also, part of a paper, by Joseph Smith, Esq. 
F.L.S. was read, entitled “Some Account of the Botany of 
Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark. 
’ 
ArTicLe XIII. 
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE, AND NOTICES OF SUBJECTS 
CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE, 
I. Action of Iron on Water. 
M. Guibourt has shown by a set of experiments, which appear 
accurate, that iron has the property of decomposing water at the 
common temperature of the atmosphere. The decomposition is 
most rapid, when the quantity of iron bears a great proportion to 
the quantity of water. In that case, the temperature rises con- 
siderably, the decomposition goes on more rapidly in proportion 
as the temperature is more and more elevated.—(Journ.de Pharm. 
June, 1818, p. 241.) 
M. Robiquet has ascertained that the black oxide of iron 
formed by the action of water on iron at the ordinary tempera- 
ture of the atmospheie, is exactly similar to the oxide formed by 
the action of red hot iron on steam. Now it is well known that 
this last oxide is a compound of one atom of protoxide and one 
atom of peroxide. The octahedral iron ore of mineralogists is a 
similar compound.—(Ibid. p. 308.) 
II. Carbonate of Iron. 
As far as we know at present, the only oxide of iron capable 
of combining with carbonic acid is the protoxide. Carbonate of 
iron found native is a compound of an atom of carbonic acid 
and an atom of protoxide of iron. I have never been able to 
succeed in my attempts to form a percarbonate of iron, though 
‘analogy leads me to suspect the possibility of the existence of 
such a salt. 
Ill. Action of Prussian Blue on Starch. 
M. Vincent, an apothecary in France, has published the fol- 
lowing curious fact. If four parts of starch and one part of 
