F. Mahila on Hydrastine. | | 57 
malian class. Now, if, along with the semi-oviparous Mammals 
and swimming, crawlin; g, and flying Reptiles, there were Reptilian 
Birds, waders and others, the harmony would be only the more 
complet e. The presence of the same number of phalanges in 
birds and reptiles would be not at all improbable—certainly no 
basis for an argument against the bir 
In pea business letter of Feb. 14th, I find the followin 
“The strongest argument for the ornithic a of the 
feathered fossils are, (1) that the animal had feathers: for the idea 
that they were not true feathers is a mere oupposiiide without 
‘any facts ~ sustain it: (2.) That the expanse of the wing was 
made by feathers on a short arm, and not as in the Pterodactyl 
by an expanse of the skin supported by an elongated finger. 
The structure of the foot in the Pterodactyl also shows that the 
animal had no close relation to the Birds. The world will have 
finally to settle down to the belief that there were Reptilian 
Birds in ancient times, as well as Ichthyoid Reptiles and Odéticoid 
Mammals. This is my strong persuasion.’ 
Amherst, Mass., May, 1863. 
Correction for part of edition—On the precedin e, in the last paragraph, 
after (2), the i 5 seeckindie asole be leveled. wiht z 
_ Arr. VILL—On Hydrastine; by F. Mana, Ph.D., Chicago, IIL. 
HYDRASTINE was detected by Durand, in Philadelphia, as early 
as 1851, who noticed its alkali ine nature, but did not succeed in 
aes it from this plant in pan mae and Sacnia some 
ft not itatitute an elementary ped 6) 
At thet ime of Mr. Perrins’ oP T had, prompt 
Fh to the liquid from whi the berbariie has bees previ- 
oualy separated by an addition of chlorhydric acid. The 
cipitate, obtained “ander these circumstances, is collected on a 
ico filte t, freed by expression from water, and mixed with 
strong elect in which it easily disses by application of heat. 
On t epolings the hydrastine crystallizes adi ily, and may be pu- 
Scr.—Sxconp Sextes, VoL. XXXVI, No. 106.—Juty, 1863. 
* 
