TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. 79 



does not state preciselj' how much of the very large quantity of sulphuric acid found 

 is uncomhined with, bases. The water of the Rio Viuagre, flowing from the volcano 

 of Purace in the Andes of Popayan, as described by Humboldt and Boussingault, 

 contains only 1-11 of free sulphuric acid (SO3 ?) in" 1000 parts of the water, with 

 •91 of hydrochloric acid. 



It is said, on the authority of Confederate officers having served west of the 

 Mississippi, that during the blockade of Southern ports the galvanic batteries of 

 telegraph offices in Te.\as and Western Louisiana were worked -with this native 

 sulphuric acid. 



On the occurrence in recent Pine timber of Ficlilelite, a Hydrocarlon hitherto 

 only hiown in a fossil state. By Professor J. W. Mallet, University of 

 Virginia. 



Some nearly colourless crystalline crusts found in clefts between the annual rings 

 of growth of a log of loug-leafed pine (^Pinus australis) in Alabama, were found to 

 dissolve in boiling alcohol (more easily in ether), and on cooling to crystallize with 

 greater distinctness in monoclinic forms. 



_ A_ specimen was exhibited of this material purified by two or three reciystal- 

 lizations. It had been found to agTce perfectly in physical and chemical pro- 

 perties with the Fichtelite of Bronieis and Clark", and on analysis yielded 



Carbon 87'82 



Hydrogen, .. .11-91 



99'73 



agi-ceing with the formula .r (C^H,). The fusing-point was found = 45° C. 



On Dr. Moffat's Tv.he Ozonometer. By T. Moffat, M.T)., F.G.S. 



The tube ozonometer is a square tube of four inches, and four feet long. It is 

 carried upon a post about fom- feet high, and turns upon a pivot, so that the opening 

 is kept constantly to the wind by means of flanges. In the middle of the upper 

 surface there is a slit, through which a clip passes into the tube, by which is sus- 

 pended a test-paper. The test-paper is changed every morning and evening. Twice 

 daily the quantity of air which passes through the tube is ascertained by means of 

 Biram's 4^-inch anemometer. At each observation the numbers registered by the 

 anemometer are reduced to square feet. 



On the Action of Phosphorus on AVcaline SohUtons of Metals. 

 By Dr. Oppenheim. 



On the Crystallization of Sails in Colloid ISohitions. By Dr. Okd, 



The Crystallorjraphic System of Lend fe, hitherto supposed to he regular, is 

 quadratic. By Herr G. Yoii Eath. 



Any one observing the crystals of Leucite implanted in the cavities of the lime- 

 stone blocks ejected by Monte Somma, the ancient crater of Vesuvius, may see cer- 

 tain streaks coveiing tlieir faces. The phenomenon will be found contiuuallv re- 

 curring, and in fact to be characteristic of the crystals of Leucite. That they obey 

 a regidar order is seen in fig. 1. The streaks are parallel, either to the shorter 

 edges, or to the symmetric diagonals of the trapezoidal faces. Parallelism between 

 the streaks and the longer edges does not occur. If the streaks extend to an edge, 

 they pass it and continue on to the neighbouring face in such a wav that the sti-eak 

 always remains in the same plane. This plane, if we consider the" form of Leucite 



