166 



does not apparently become softened when held some time 

 in the hand, but emits a faint resinous odour. The spe- 

 cific gravity at a temperature of 60° of Fahrenheit is 1.135, 

 When placed on a heated iron it immediately melts, smokes 

 much, burns with a bright flame, and yields a very fra- 

 grant odour, like some of the sweet-scented resins, but 

 which at last becomes slightly tainted with that of asphal- 

 tum. The melted mass, when cold, is black, very brittle, 

 and breaks with a glossy fracture." 



By the analysis of 100 grains by Mr, Hatchett it appears 

 to contain : 



Resin 55 



Asphaltum 41 



Earthy residuum . . . , 3 



99 



I had the pleasure of receiving this, with a valuable series 

 of the wood passing to the most perfect Bovey Coal, from 

 Bovey Heath field, near Chudleigh, Devonshire, by favour 

 of Dr. Beeke. 



TAB. CLXXXVII. 



After figuring the Resinous Asphaltum, I conceive it 

 very proper to show the nature of the Wood, from the same 

 spot, in its passage to what the people of the neighbour- 

 hood call Plank, and Bovey Coal. Thus we have, by the 

 favour of a good friend to science, obtained the Wood that 

 may have assisted in affording this Resinous Asphaltum 

 by a regular and gradual mineral change, depending upon 

 the situation, depth, he. 



