Chemistry and Physics. 379 
some call them, or Pompions, as I may call them) that came out 
of America or the West Indies, from sundry places, both farther 
south among the Spanish colonies, and nearer hand, in our own 
of Virginia, New England, ete.” He notes the great variety of 
Size, shape and color, ‘some as great as our pompions, some as 
small as an apple, some discolored on the outside, green with 
whitish or yellowish stripes, . . some also reddish, spotted or 
striped, and some of a deep yellow.” 
Piso and Maregrav (Hist, nat. Brasil, 1648, p. 44) describe 
and figure a plant called Jurumu [= Yurumu} by the Brazil- 
Mins, and by the Portuguese, Bobora. M. DeCandolle, p. 201, 
8 inclined to agree with modern botanists in referring this to 
. maxima ; but, as he remarks, it appears to have been a cul- 
hvated plant. If introduced from abroad, the name given it’ by 
the Tupis was probably formed, by prefix or affix, from that of 
Some native (or naturalized) species to which it had some 
resemblance. In Montoya’s Tesoro, 1639, we find Yurud “ cala- 
bagillos silvestres,” small wild calabazas: but the name Yurumu 
—— dias BO cia ae lei 
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE, 
I. CHEemistRY AND PHysICcs. 
Te thus givin 
.'ree distinct classes of salts were employed : 
possible; and (3) those 
Which may unite to produce double salts. On mixing solutions of 
KCl and of NaCl of various strengths and in various proportions, 
“ontraction took place in amount varying from 3-4 to 99 volumes 
™ 100,000. Diluting these solutions with an equal volume of 
Water, gave a contraction for NaCl of 15°8 volumes; for KCl of . 
olumes; of 5NaCl (in 100 molecules of water) a contrac- 
tion of 144°5; and of 5KCI one of 135°0, The difference in con- 
‘action on dilution between NaCl and KCl is 3-8; and between 
