LrvnEESiDGE.— Analysis of Moa Eggshell. 227 



It will be noticed that 1*98 per cent, of lime in the above results is 

 uncombined with any acid ; it therefore probably existed as an organic 

 compound, perhaps as an albuminate. The amount of carbonic acid found 

 in the shell itself was 40-05 per cent., but on treating the ignited residue 

 (of quick lime) with ammonium carbonate and again determining the 

 carbonic acid 41 "48 per cent, was found, or an excess of 1-43 per cent, over 

 and above that furnished by the original shell itself; this 1-43 per cent, of 

 carbonic acid would, by calculation, require 1*82 per cent, of lime, whilst 

 the actual excess of lime found was 1-98; the difference, '18 per cent., 

 between the calculated amount and that found is quite within the range of 

 experimental error. 



It was thought that perhaps it was just possible, although not very 

 probable, that the shell had been subjected to the action of fire, and that 

 part of the hme might still be in the caustic state, but nothing was found 

 to confirm this momentary idea ; the powdered shell turned red litmus 

 blue paper, but not to a greater extent than does powdered marble ; and, 

 moreover, the presence of the organic matter found in all the fragments 

 examined completely negatived the supposition that they had lost part of 

 their carbonic acid by the action of fire. 



The specific gravity of the shell was found to be 2-706 wlfen taken in 

 the form of powder ; the uncrushed shell, after long soaking in water, gave 

 a specific gravity of 2-530, and after warming until air-bubbles ceased to 

 be expelled it was found to be 2-610. The difference between the first and 

 second determinations gives a rough estimate of the amount of air-space 

 in the substance of the shell. 



On comparing the results of the analyses of the moa eggshell with the 

 analyses of recent eggshells, it will at once be apparent that the com- 

 position of the moa eggshell differs but little from them ; hence it has, in 

 all probability, undergone but a slight amount of change. 



The following analysis of the eggshell of the domestic fowl, made by 

 Vauquelin, is quoted in Watts' Dictionary of Chemistry, vol. 11., p. 363 : — 

 Calcium carbonate . . . . . . . . . . 89-6 



,, phosphate with a little magnesium phosphate .. 5-7 



Animal matter containing sulphur . . . . . . . . 4-7 



1000 

 In the Supplement to Watts' Dictionary, p. 549, the following analyses 

 by W. Wicke, are also cited : 





Heron. 



GuU. 



Pheasant. 



Goose. 



Hen. 



Duck. 



Calcium carbonate 



9i-60 



91-96 



93-33 



95^26 



93-70 



94-42 



Magnesium 



•69 



•76 



•66 



•72 



1-39 



•50 



Phosphates 



•42 



•83 



1-37 



•47 



•76 



•84 



Organic substances 



4-30 



6-45 



4-64 



3-55 



4-15 



4^24 



