182 Quarterly Abstract of European Chemistry. 



consequence of this, the soluble part afforded a deep reddish brown 

 solution. It is supposed that this humate of ammonia will act power- 

 fully upon vegetation in addition to the other ingredients, which are 

 those commonly contained in guano. The analysis of the specimen 

 in question gave volatile ammoniacal salts — viz. 



Oxalate, phosphate, and humate of ammonia, and organic 



matter, containing 5 per cent, of ammonia, . * 25-00 

 Fixed alkaline salts, consisting of muriate, sulphate, and 



phosphate of potash, . . . . . . 11 '00 



Phosphates of lime and magnesia, . . . . 32'00 



Water, . 3000 



Earthy matter, . , . . . . . . 2-00 



10000 



W. Francis (Chem. Gazette, May, 1844) has also analyzed the Af- 

 rican guano, and found 5*50 per cent, of humic acid, and 9*70 of am- 

 monia ; 100 parts furnished volatile salts, as 



Oxalate, muriate and carbonate of ammonia, combustible 

 organic matter containing 5-50 of humic acid, uric acid, 

 and extractive matter, and 9*70 ammmonia, =i . . 42-59 



Water, 27-13 



Phosphates of lime and magnesia, .... 22-39 



Residue insoluble in nitric acid, (sand,) . . . 0-81 



Alkaline salts, chiefly phosphates and chlorides, with a 



small quantity of sulphate, ..... 7-08 



100-00 



From this analysis the author supposes that the African guano has 

 been subjected more to the decomposing influence of the atmosphere 

 and water than the South American ; and in support of this, mentions 

 a remarkable specimen examined by Fritzsche — it was a dry, coarse 

 powder, containing some large compact masses of a yellowish brown 

 color. The compact portion exhibited a stratified appearance, the 

 strata being compressed and undulating. The strata were of two 

 kinds, one of a brownish yellow color, consisting principally of urate 

 of ammonia, the other of a blackish gray or dark brown, being princi- 

 pally clay. Both layers alternated regularly ; all the layers of clay 

 have an insoluble white coating of urate of ammonia, which would 

 seem to prove that the guano in question has acquired its present state 

 through the agency of water. Feathers, vertebrae, and fragments of 

 fish-bones occur frequently, as well as remains of plants and seeds. 

 One specimen afforded 37 per cent, of anhydrous uric acid ; another 

 with very little argillaceous matter gave 59 per cent. The interposi- 

 tion of argillaceous masses between the urate of ammonia and the 



