296 Analysis of the Organic Remains of Burdiehouse. 



Buckland, the imperishable phosphate of lime. It has survived 

 the extinction of species and the wreck of formations, and now 

 aids us, at the distance of countless ages, in our attempts to con- 

 nect together the organized beings of periods separated from one 

 another by so vast an interval. 



In concluding for the present, I have only a single word to 

 say as to the slight trace of perishable animal matter which per- 

 vades all these remains. As we know that they all contain bitu- 

 minous matter, and that many kinds of common coal yield am- 

 monia by distillation, I thought it possible that the alkaline reac- 

 tion of the limestone and of the various remains when heated, 

 might arise from the bituminous matter. But on making some 

 comparative trials between them and the coal used at the Glasgow 

 Gas- Works, which yields an ammoniacal liquid on distillation, I 

 found the alkaline reaction of the Burdiehouse remains was so 

 much more decided than that of the coal, that there can be no 

 doubt it arises from animal matter * The strong ammoniacal re- 

 action of the limestone, when subjected to heat, surpassing that 

 even of the bones and scales, is remarkable, and shews how large 

 a quantity of decayed animal matter from the various organic re- 

 mains which have been entombed in it, has been diffused through 

 its mass. In this respect, as well as in the character and extra- 

 ordinary number of its fossil relics, both vegetable and animal, 

 the subject of the interesting discovery of Dr Hibbert is distin- 

 guished in a marked manner from the ordinary encrinal mountain 

 limestone of the vicinity, which contains only a comparatively 

 slight trace of animal matter. 



* Indeed, in the way in which these experiments were made, which was by heat- 

 ing portions of the substances under examination in glass tubes, and observing the 

 effect on turmeric paper, it is difficult to notice a proper ammoniacal reaction from 

 the coal ; whilst with the substances from Burdiehouse, particularly the limestone and 

 coprolites, the alkaline reaction is observed with great readiness. In all such experi- 

 ments it is easy to distinguish the permanent browning effect which the bituminous 

 vapour exerts on the paper at a high temperature, from the true ammoniacal dis- 

 coloration. 



