C A L 



[ 64] 



C A L 



in France. Prof. Jameson places 

 cache-long as a sub-species of opal, 

 stating that it is distinguished from 

 calcedony by lustre, fracture, hard- 

 ness, and specific gravity. Prof. 

 Cleaveland, however, deems it a 

 variety of calcedony, as do Messrs. 

 Phillips and Allan. Its specific 

 gravity is from 2-2 to 2'27. It 

 is opaque or slightly translucent at 

 the edges. Fracture flat conchoidal. 

 Infusible before the blow-pipe. 



CA'DMITJM. A metal of a blueish-white 

 colour, with a specific gravity of 

 8-6. It is the least malleable and 

 ductile of all metals which possess 

 those properties. It was discovered 

 by Prof. Stromeyer, of Gottingen, 

 in 1 8 1 7, in some oxide, or carbonate, 

 of zinc ; it has subsequently been 

 found in the silicates of zinc of 

 Derbyshire, and in ores of that 

 metal found in other situations. 

 The equivalent number of cadmiun 

 is 52'5 ; its symbol Cd. Cadmium 

 has not as yet been usefully em- 

 ployed in the arts. 



CADU'CT-BRAN'CHIATE. (from caducus, 

 perishable, and Iranchia, a gill.) 

 A term applied to certain amphibi- 

 ous animals, as the frog, toad, 

 newt, &c., who, at a certain period 

 of their existence, undergo a species 

 of metamorphosis, their gills, or 

 branchiae, becoming obliterated, and 

 their lungs developed. 



CADU'COUS. (caducus, Lat.) In 

 botany, applied to leaves falling 

 before the end of summer ; to 

 corollas falling off before the drop- 

 ping of the stamens ; to perianths 

 falling before the corolla is well 

 unfolded. 



CAIRN. (Gael.) A name given to a 

 heap of stones covering a dead body. 



y u rf 



CAIRN-GORM. j 



CA'LATTE. Called also odontalite and 

 mineral turquoise : the uncleavable 

 azure spar of Mohs. This earthy 

 mineral has no cleavage. Hard- 

 ness = 6. Specific gravity = 



2*8 3. Massive disseminated; 

 colour blue or greenish-blue passing 

 into sky-blue and into apple-green. 

 Streak white. Feebly translucent 

 on the edges, or opake. Fracture 

 conchoidal. The Russian chemist 

 John states calaite to consist of 

 alumina 73; oxide of copper 4 -5; 

 oxide of iron 4 ; water 18. 

 This mineral may be distinguished 

 from malachite, with which it has 

 sometimes been confounded, by its 

 yielding a white streak, while that 

 of malachite is green. 



CA'LAMAR. A name given to the 

 cuttle-fish. 



CA'LAMINE. (calamine, ^i.giallamina, 

 It.) Carbonate of zinc. Calamine 

 is found either loose, or in masses, 

 or crystallized; colour white, grey, 

 or yellow. Before the blow-pipe it 

 decrepitates, but does not melt. 

 It is used in the manufacture of 

 brass. It consists of oxide of zinc 

 65, and carbonic acid 34. It con- 

 tains also some sesquioxide of iron. 



CA'LAMITE. (from calamus, Lat. /ca\a- 

 ytto5, a reed, Gr.) 



1. A genus of fossil equisetacese. 

 Calamites abound universally in 

 the most ancient coal formations, 

 occur but sparingly in the lower 

 strata of the secondary series, and 

 are entirely wanting in the tertiary 

 formations, and also on the actual 

 surface of the earth. Brongniart 

 enumerates twelve species of cala- 

 mites. Calamites are characterized 

 by large and simple cylindrical 

 stems, articulated at intervals, but 

 either without sheaths, or present- 

 ing them under forms unknown 

 among existing equiseta ; they 

 however most differ from equiseta 

 in their height and bulk, sometimes 

 exceeding seven inches in diameter, 

 whilst that of a living equiseta 

 rarely exceeds half an inch. A 

 calamite fourteen inches in diameter 

 has lately been placed in the museum 

 at Leeds. 



