17 



TAB. CCCXIII. 



CARBON vegeto-bituminosus* 

 Vegetable Coal, 



Class 1. Combustibles. Order 2. Compound. 



Gen. 5. Carbon. Spec. 2. Combined with bi- 



tumen and a small portion 

 of vegetable matter. 



Div. 2. Amorphous. 

 Syn. Bituminous Schistus. Hatchett in Linn. Trans. 

 4. 136. 



K.IMMERIDGE Coal, as spoken of by Mineralogists, is ne- 

 vertheless not very generally known, nor would the sub- 

 stance, if found in any other place, from its aspect, be 

 suspected as a Coal, and therefore has been casually over- 

 looked by those who wanted specimens. It varies some- 

 what in appearance, as it sometimes divides with a very re- 

 gular schistose fracture, and it is at other times more 

 massive and earthy. The same is found a little above the 

 level of the sea on the eastern side of Portland Island, as 

 well as at Swanage in Dorsetshire, where it is met with at 

 the same level. It is used at Swanage, and in some parts 

 of Portland, for heating ovens; and although the Bitumen 

 gives an uncomfortable odour if burned in a common fire, 

 it does not, I am told, give any effluvia to affect the bread 

 in the oven. 



It may be known by its lightness, and taking an easy 

 gloss with rubbing the nail over it; but more particularly 



VOL. III. D 



