42 



Dr. T. Andrews on the Continuity oj the 



[June 17, 



sorbs oxygen and glows with formation of the black trioxide and blue 

 tetroxide till it at last attains its maximum degree of oxidation. The 

 specific gravity of metallic vanadium at 1.5° is 5*5. It is not soluble in 

 either hot or cold hydrochloric acid ; strong sulphuric acid dissolves it on 

 heating, giving a yellow solution ; hydrofluoric acid dissolves it slowly 

 with evolution of hydrogen ; nitric acid of all strengths acts violently on 

 the metal, evolving red nitrous fumes and yielding a blue solution ; fused 

 with sodium hydroxide the metal dissolves with evolution of hydrogen, a 

 vanadate being formed. 



One sample yielded on oxidation a percentage increase of 77'94, whereas 

 that calculated from metal to pentoxide is 77*98. Another preparation 

 gave a percentage increase of 70 8, showing the presence of a small quan- 

 tity of oxide. On treatment in a current of chlorine metallic vanadium 

 burns and forms the reddish black tetrachloride ; heated in a current of 

 pure nitrogen the mononitride is formed. 



The properties of the compounds of vanadium with silicon and platinum 

 are then described in the memoir. 



XX. " On Palaocoryne, a genus of the Tubularine Hydrozoa from 

 the Carboniferous formation." By Dr. G. Martjn Duncan, 

 F.R.S., Sec. Geol. Soc, and H. M. Jenkins, Esq., F.G.S. Re- 

 ceived June 14, 1869. 



(Abstract.) 



PalcBocoryne is a new genus containing two species, and belongs to a new 

 family of the Tubular idae. The forms described were discovered in the 

 lower shales of the Ayrshire and Lanarkshire coal-field, and an examination 

 of their structure determined them to belong to the Hydrozoa, and to be 

 parasitic upon Fenestellse. The genus has some characters in common 

 with Bimeria (St. Wright), and the polypary is hard and ornamented. 

 The discovery of the trophosome, and probably part of the gonosome of a 

 tubularine Hydrozoon in the Palaeozoic strata brings the order into geolo- 

 gical relation with the doubtful Sertularian Graptolites of the Silurian 

 formation, and with the rare medusoids of the Solenhofen stones. 



XXI. Bakerian Lecture. — " On the Continuity of the Gaseous and 

 Liquid States of Matter." By Thomas Andrews, M.D., F.R.S., 

 &c. Received June 14, 1869. 



(Abstract.) 



In 1863 the author announced, in a communication which Dr. Miller 

 had the kindness to publish in the third edition of his ' Chemical Physics,' 

 that on partially liquefying carbonic acid by pressure, and gradually raising 

 at the same time the temperature to about 88° Fahr., the surface of de- 



