On the Analysis of Guano. 
301 
7. 100 parts afforded by distillation with milk of lime, 10*2 of 
ammonia. 
8. The total constituents of that guano, being tabulated, are — 
I. Matter soluble in water . 
47-00 
isting of — 
1. Sulphate oi potash, with a little sulphate 
Ammonia. 
of soda ..... 
6-00 
2. Muriate of ammonia 
3-00 
0-95 
3. Phosphate of ammonia 
14-32 
4-62 
4. Sesqui-carbonate of ammonia 
1-00 
0-34 
5. Sulphate of ammonia 
2-00 
0-50 
6. Oxalate of ammonia 
3-23 
0-89 
8. Water 
8-50 
9. Soluble organic matter and urea . 
8-95 
47-00 
II. Matter insoluble in water . . .53 • 00 
consisting of — 
1. Silica 
1 
25 
2. Undefined organic matter . 
9 
52 
3. Urate of ammonia . . . . 
14 
73 
1 
23 
4. Oxalate of lime . . . • 
1 
00? 
5. Subphosphate of lime 
22 
•00 
6. Phosphate of magnesia and ammonia 
4 
50 
0 
32 
53 
00 
9 
80 
The remaining 1-25 of actual ammonia may be fairly traced to the 
partial decomposition of the urea during the distillation with lime ; and 
the 5 per cent, of potential ammonia proceeded from the transformin 
decomposition of the uric acid. 
C. Foliated guano, from Peru, in caked pieces, the layers very thin, 
parallel, and interspersed with white streaks. This guano was somewhat 
dense for a pure specimen, having a specific gravity of 1*7. The in- 
soluble matter afforded by digestion with borax water, no less than 
25 ■ 2 per cent, of pale yellow uric acid ; 9 of other combustible organic 
matter, and 15 of earthy matter: consisting of silica, 3-5; phosphate 
of magnesia and ammonia, 6*5 ; and only 5 of subphosphate of lime or 
bone earth. It lost 10 per cent, when dried in a heat of 212° F. The 
remaining 30*8 parts soluble in water had a strong acid reaction, and 
afforded by ferric acetate and ammonia 6 of phosphoric acid, equivalent 
to 9-7 of crystallized biphosphate of ammonia, after acetate of barytes 
had separated the sulphuric acid. No less than 17 parts of chloride of 
silver were obtained, by precipitating with nitrate of silver the liquor 
filtered from the phosphate of iron, and acidulated with nitric acid. 
As the present is an accidental sample, and not an average of any im- 
portation, I did not prosecute the research further. 
