DARWINIAS OF PORT JACKSON AND THEIR ESSENTIAL OILS. 171 



This was taken as one fraction, it had no rotation, its specific 

 gravity at 18° =9036. 



Some decomposition had taken place, the odour of acetic acid 

 being most marked, so that the oil cannot be distilled under 

 atmospheric pressure without alteration. The distillation results 

 show an entire absence of terpenes and other constituents boiling 

 at a low temperature, and the same results were also secured from 

 the oil obtained by cold saponification. 



When the fraction (222 - 240°) was saponified by alcoholic 

 potash in the cold and the oil treated with dry calcium chloride, 

 a solid mass was obtained ; this was ground up with ether and 

 dried at pump as much as possible, then pressed between drying 

 paper until dry. On decomposing this with water 30 cc. of a 

 slightly coloured oil was obtained ; this had a fine rose odour, 

 specific gravity at 16° = - 886, on distillation the greater portion 

 distilled between 228 - 230° was practically colourless, had no 

 rotation, and formed citral on oxidation. These characters 

 indicate geraniol. It is also readily soluble to a clear solution in 

 55 per cent, alcohol. The crude oil of D. fascicularis does not 

 form a clear solution with two volumes of 70 per cent, alcohol, 

 but does so with 90 per cent, alcohol. 



Saponification of the Ester. 

 Several determinations of the percentage of ester in the crude 

 oil of D . fascicularis from several distillations obtained at different 

 times, gave 57*05 per cent, as the least, and 65*1 per cent, as the 

 greatest; this was from oil distilled in November. When the dark 

 colour was removed by shaking with a very dilute solution of 

 aqueous potash, the determination on the same sample of oil 

 showed a diminution of 1*4 per cent, or 60*9 reduced to 58*5 per 

 cent. A determination on the fraction 222 - 240° obtained on dis- 

 tilling the crude oil gave 73*1 per cent, of ester. The method 

 adopted in these determinations was to weigh the oil into a flask, 

 add 20 cc. of correctly standardised alcoholic potash (semi-normal) 

 and heat to boiling on the water bath for half an hour with air 

 condenser. It was then cooled, water added, also a few drops of 



