Mineralogy and Geology. 131 
thus promote, in the most effectual manner, general scientific edu- 
2. Notes on the origin of Bitumens, together with eaperiments 
upon the formation of Asphaltum; by 8. F. Peckaam.—This 
Vh 
him to the American Philosophical Society on the 2d of October, 
and has been published in their Proceedings. After alluding to the 
vague character of the nomenclature used to designate natural 
hydrocarbons, Mr. Peckham proposes a classification of these sub- 
stances on the basis proposed in this Journal (II, xxxv, 157) by T. 
S. Hunt; i. e., their solubility or insolubility in bisulphid of carbon. 
He would limit the term “ Bitumen” to those liquid and solid hy- 
drocarbons thus soluble, as well as to those minerals from which 
t 
being called bituminous, Taking petroleum as normal bitumen, 
he classifies the derivatives as follows: 
Lower derivatives, naphthas, and gaseous hydrocarbons, 
(by distillation). 
Asphalts. 
Petroleum. 1 rrighor decwatiees oar | Pyro-asphalts 
y inspissation or de- Asphaltic-schists. 
composition), cg Ny crwtag j Pyro-schists. 
n This view he considers to be sustained by the fact that 
while the amount of nitrogen which is found in the paleozoic petro- 
leums is small, (a fact which Dr, Hunt attributes to the low char- 
acter of the animal life at that time, the tissues of these animals 
being “destitute of nitrogen and very similar to the woo be 
; taiacag are then enumerated at length; Bischof’s as modified by 
Hunt, is possible as a matter of theory ; but Mr. Peckham main- 
tains 
