BF 
312 Scientific Intelligence. 
energetic, especially on the ethylidene compound. Five cc. of 
this substance mixed with twice its volume of absolute alcohol 
was added to twice the usual quantity of the couple, and the 
whole heated to 60°-62° for ten hours and then to 80° for three 
hours more. The volume of gas evolved was 932 ¢.c., the theo- 
retical yield being 989 c.c. There remained in the flask a viscid 
liquid, readily soluble in absolute alcohol. From this solution, 
"water precipitated zinc oxide. The atomic ratio between the 
Z orme was 1:1°08. This fact, together with the de- 
portment of the substance to heat, leave little room to doubt that 
the body is zine chloroethylate a Zn. The evolved gas, 
except five per cent absorbable by fuming sulphuric acid, was 
ethyl hydride. The reaction appears, therefore, to be as follows: 
Re than the production of a second molecule of the chlorethylate. 
robably, therefore, ethyl chloride is intermediately formed. 
d 
stitution of the former to be fixed. It has also completed the list 
“ ta zine haloid derivatives.—J. Chem. Soc., IL, xii, 615, July, 
4, Gre 
Il GroLtogy anp Natura History. 
1. Notes on the new edition of Mr. Darwin’s work on the Struc- 
ture and Distribution of Coral Reefs (1874); by Jamus D. Daya.* 
on Coral Reefs. 
still finds reason to differ from the writer, I think that with 
i" 
they deserve. A review of some statements in his work may, 
therefore, be profitable. I follow the order of his criticisms a8 
briefly stated in the first half of his preface. 
* The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs by Cuartes Darwin, M.A., 
PRS, F.G.S. Second edition, revised. 263 py ’ tae ith three plates. 
London, 1874. (Smith, Elder & Co.) Sep 
