Repoets of Societies. 



91 



nature ; but others were fragments of bone, sharks' teeth, and other 

 fossils. Coprolites were found in the Crag of Suffolk, in the upper green- 

 sand of Cambridge and of France, and were formerly worked by Mr. 

 Hunter in the Speeton clay. Rock phosphates were found in Germany 

 and South America ; they were often of marine origin, as shown by their 

 containing fucoids and iodine. The main use of the phosphates was in 

 agriculture ; when used as manure they were converted into ' ' super- 

 phosphate" by treatment with sulphuric acid. The author alluded to the 

 remarkable fulfilment of Liebig's prophecy, uttered more than thirty 

 years ago, that in agriculture concentrated chemical fertilisers would be 

 used instead of bulky manures, as in pharmacy a few grains of quinine 

 have replaced ounces of powdered bark. Phosphorus was obtained by 

 distilling superphosphate of Hme with charcoal ; although known for 200 

 years, it was not employed for lucifer matches till 1833. At that time it 

 cost £4 4:8. per ft), whereas now it might be got for 2s. 6d. per ftj. The 

 use in recent years of the red or amorphous phosphorus was a great 

 improvement, not only on account of its greater safety, bnt as saving the 

 matchmakers from a terrible disease of the jawbone, to which they were 

 liable when they inhaled the fumes of yellow phosphorus. Greek fire 

 consisted of phosphorus dissolved in bisulphide of carbon ; it ignited 

 spontaneously on evaporation. Phosphorus was valuable for giving hard- 

 ness to bronze ; it and some of its compounds were used in medicine. — 

 The lecture was illustrated by analytical tables, by a large number of 

 mineralogic specimens, by chemical experiments and microscopic prepara- 

 tions. After some remarks by the secretary, who thought that the 

 occurrence of phosphate of lime with iron pyrites in the Laurentian rocks 

 tended to corroborate the existence of animal life at that period, and by 

 Mr. W. Smith, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Hunter. 



H. F. Parsons, Sec. 



HuDDERSFiELD Scientific Club. — This club was formed on Saturday 

 evening, Dec. 16th, at the residence of Mr. Joseph French, Elmwood 

 House. Its rules provide that meetings and excursions shall be held, at 

 which original papers on scientific subjects may be read, and discussions 

 thereon take place ; specimens exhibited and commented upon ; observa- 

 tions recorded, &c. The club is to consist of not more than 30 

 members, and no person to be eligible for election who is not a member 

 of some other scientific society, nor shall any person be elected without 

 the assent of three-fourths of the entire members. Meetings to be held 

 on the second Friday in every month, at 8 p.m., subject to alteration. — 

 The first officers were appointed as follows : — President, C. P. Hobkirk ; 

 vice-president, G. T. Porritt, F.L.S. : secretary and treasurer, George 

 Brook, ter. ; librarian, S. D. Bairstow ; curator, Joseph French. It was 

 resolved to join the West Riding Consolidated Naturalists' Society, and 

 that Mr. John Conacher should be the delegate to the Council. 



