1865.] of the Lactic Series. 197 



crystallizes on evaporation in minute elastic needles, which, when dry, have 

 the appearance of wool. It is moderately soluble in hot water, but 

 sparingly so in cold. This salt gave numbers on analysis closely corre- 

 sponding with the formula 



f(<?.HU 



I (0 H) f 



>" 



If barium diamyloxalate be dissolved in hot dilute alcohol, and excess of 

 sulphuric acid be added, the liquid after filtration contains diamyloxalic 

 acid in solution. On heating upon a water-bath, the alcohol gradually 

 evaporates, and diamyloxalic acid crystallizes in the hot solution as a 

 beautiful network of brilliant silky fibres, which, after being well washed in 

 cold water and dried at 100, yielded on analysis numbers closely corre- 

 sponding with the formula 



OH. 



Diamyloxalic acid presents the appearance of colourless satiny fibres, 

 which are insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol and ether. This acid 

 is remarkable for its high melting-point, 122 C., in which respect it 

 surpasses any of the acids of this series. Its melting-point is very sharply 

 defined, and it solidifies immediately on a very slight reduction of tempera- 

 ture. Heated more strongly, it sublimes and condenses on a cold surface 

 in white crystalline flakes like snow. 



No. VI. Action of Zinc upon Amylic Oxalate and Ethylic Iodide. 



Equivalent proportions of amylic oxalate and ethylic iodide were digested 

 at 50 to 60 C., with excess of granulated zinc, for several days. The 

 reaction proceeded with extreme sluggishness, and was not completed before 

 the expiration of a week. Being then mixed with water and submitted to 

 distillation, an oily liquid passed over, which, on rectification, was ultimately 

 resolved into amylic alcohol and an ethereal liquid, which analysis proved 

 to be amylic leucate. 



The two consecutive reactions by which this body is produced are ex- 

 pressed in the following equations : 



2 O 



loC 5 H n 

 Amylic oxalate. 



IOC 5 H U 



Amylic zincmonethyl leucate. Amylic leucate. 



