120 Scientific Intelligence. 
6. Cocinon, gee and Lauro-stearon.—De.rrs has prepared and 
analyzed cocinon, and Overbeck, myriston and lauro-stearon. Cocinon, 
as prepared by po distillation of cocinate of lime, crystallizes in light, 
brilliant white scales; it is tasteless and without smell, is soluble in 
ether and alcohol, fuses at 58° C., and solidifies toa re sperma- 
ceti-like mass. Its formate is Ga2Ha202 or C21He2 
and lauro-stearon crystallize in brilliant white scales, aid solidify on 
cooling after fusion in crystalline masses, which become highly electric 
by friction. Myriston has the formula CsoHsoOz2 or C2sH2s0, and 
fuses at 75°C. Lauro-stearon has the formula Cac Ha6Qz or C2 oHiz20, 
and fuses at 66° C.—Pogg. Ann., |xxxvi, 587, 591. 
7. On the Allotropie Modification of Oxyd of Cobalt; by RA 
GenTH of Philadelphia, (communicated for this Journal by Dr. Genta.) 
—One of my students, Mr. Edwin L. Reakirt, has discovered the allo- 
tropic modification of oxyd of cobalt, corresponding in all its proper- 
ties with the allotropic modification ‘of oxyd of nickel, which I de- 
tected several years ago.* It was obtained aan by the decom- 
pee of the carmine chlorid of my cobalt bases, (Fremy’s chlorhy- 
sees) by heat, and after dissolving out the chlorid of 
porta it remained pure. It occurs in iron black, very brilliant micro 
scopic octahedra, with a submetallic lustre. They are not magnetic. 
They are insoluble in hydrochloric or nitric acid, but readily dissolve by 
fusion with bisul Iphate of potash. The quantity Mr small 
for further examinations ; but judging from analogy, there 
to its composition. It contains no nickel. By the Soconiponition of the 
above mentioned salt, I have often obtained metallic cobalt; but never 
before this oxyd. I will mention here, that : have several times ob 
served the oping modification of oxyd of nickel, in quantities: ‘not 
exceeding 0°5 or 1-0 in the metallic nickel manutwetured in 
Cassel and imported to this country. 
8. Observations on the Zodiacal gor made at the Kew Observatory 
from January to ‘April, 1850; by Mr. H. R. Birr, (Proc. Brit. Assocs 
1852, Ath., No. 1298. )—These meena were made at the Obser" 
tory of the British Association during the author’s residence there: It 
appeared to the author that two very important features presented them- 
selves in connection with the observations :—viz., the position of the 
great mass of light being constantly north of the ecliptic,—and, the ap- 
parent change in the form of the light, or at least that portion of it form 
ing the apex of the luminous triangle on the cone of light, which is’ very 
potengiesé dino pronre of observations, those in F ruary present 
@ narrower cone, the axis being very a ‘inclined st wih 
were In this res the are 
those of March, when — cone of light had become ‘m uch larger, the 
apex more rounded, and the inclination of the axis to the ecliptic 
changed. It would appear from the projections that a accompanied the 
observations, that while the great mass of light was still sill northward of of 
the ecliptic the direction of the axis was so inclined that it) 
different position wit with Tespect to the ecliptic: than it digin Febery in Pedra 
# dn on Chitin ‘tis Passi, 8, p. YR. 
rs 
