Linncean Society. 231 



Volatile matter 



per cent. Coke. 



Lancashire coal 2G*6 73 - 4 



Boghead coal 69'0 3 1 '0 



Wemyss, Capeldrae, Methil 33*41 



Methil, upper part of seam 70 - 5 



Methil, lower part of seam 37' 7 



While in Boghead coal the quantity of carbon is small, the quantity 

 of hydrogen is large, and hence there is a small proportion only of 

 fixed carbon left. There is a difference in the quantity of coke ac- 

 cording as the coal is heated slowly or rapidly ; when the heating is 

 rapid the quantity of coke is smaller. The quantity of white ash left 

 by many coals is very large. This is particularly the case in Loch- 

 gelly, Capeldrae, Wemyss, and Torbane coals. 



On reviewing all that had been recently done in the examination of 

 coal, Dr. Balfour is disposed to think that there is still a great want 

 of information on the subject, and he particularly alluded to the fact 

 that no chemist had given an analysis of the reddish-brown or yellow 

 matter which is met with in coal, more particularly in Boghead gas 

 coal, and that until this was done it was impossible to decide as to its 

 bituminoid or resinous nature. 



Professor Fleming entered at length upon the subject of the for- 

 mation of coal, and alluded particularly to the differences often ob- 

 servable in strata of the same bed, which he thought indicated a dif- 

 ference either in the materials of which they had been formed, or in 

 the manner in which the deposit had taken place. He heartily con- 

 curred in Professor Balfour's views. 



Professor Edward Forbes stated that although he had not hitherto 

 taken part in the investigation that had recently occupied so much 

 attention in Edinburgh, he felt that it was one of great importance. 

 He thought a mistake had occurred in regarding coal as a mineral 

 rather than as a rock, and showed that we ought not to confine our 

 ideas of coal to the deposits of the carboniferous system. He parti- 

 cularly alluded to the cretaceous and to other beds of coal found in 

 various parts of the world. He thought Dr. Fleming's views to be 

 nearer the truth than any that had as yet come under his notice. We 

 are very much in the dark as to the real character of many of the 

 fossil plants, and more so in regard to those which have been con- 

 verted into coal, even if it were necessary to assume that that material 

 was entirely of vegetable origm. 



2. " Notice of new localities for rare Plants in the neighbourhood 

 of Edinburgh," by Professor Balfour. 



LINN^EAN SOCIETY. 



December 20, 1853. — Thomas Bell, Esq., President, in the Chair. 



Read, a " Notice regarding a Weevil of the Vine and its Parasite." 

 By John Curtis, Esq., F.L.S. &c. 



Numerous insects have long since been noticed as injurious to 

 vines in the South of Europe, and their history and ceconomy have 



