174 R. T. BAKER AND H. G. SMITH. 



Essential oil of Darwinia taxifolia. 

 This oil was distilled from fresh material. It differs largely 

 from the oil of D. fascicularis in all its characters. The specific 

 gravity of the crude oil was -8734 at 21° C. and its rotation in 

 100 mm. tube was 6*5° to the left. 



When distilled 4 per cent, came over below 165°, and by 175° 

 54 per cent, had been obtained, by 185° 65 per cent, had distilled. 

 From 165 - 185° was considered as first fraction. Second fraction 

 185 - 230° = 6 per cent. Third fraction 230 - 255° = 16 per cent. 

 Specific gravity, first fraction = -8545 at 21° 0. 

 ,, third fraction = *9062 ,, 



Rotation 100 mm. tube, first fraction - 10*6 

 ,, ,, „ third fraction + 4-7 



The lower boiling portion of the first fraction consisted largely 

 of lsevopinene shown by its boiling point and the formation of its 

 nitrosochloride melting point 103°. Neither phellandrene nor 

 cineol could be detected. The ester determination gave results as 

 follows : — 1-3381 gram crude oil required '0196 gram potash 

 S.F. = 14-5 = 5 per cent ester. 

 1*2176 gram required "0196 gram potash 

 S.F. = 16 = 5*6 per cent, ester. 



An ester determination on the third faction gave the following 

 result : — 



1*5175 gram required '0532 gram potash 

 S.F. 35 = 12-3 per cent, ester. 



Determination of free alcohol. 

 10 cc. of the crude oil was boiled three hours with an equal volume 

 of acetic anhydride and a little anhydrous sodium acetate. The 

 separated oil was washed and dried : 



1*7198 gram required -0756 gram potash 

 S.F. = 44 = 15*4 per cent, ester. 



The oil thus contains some free alcohol, but it is doubtful if it 

 be geraniol, as the regenerated oil, after saponification of the ester 

 had a marked odour of linalool. If the alcohol be considered as 



