326 
at Lesketh How, Ambleside, 12*36 inches ; during the months in 
question, at the same place, it was only 4*54 inches. 
Three tables are given by the author in elucidation ; the first re- 
lating to the fall of rain in five different places in the district ; the 
second affording a. summary of general meteorological observations at 
Kendal, more or less applicable to other parts of the district ; the 
third containing, for the sake of comparison, the rain-fall at various 
places in the United Kingdom. 
The author concludes with noticing the abnormal state of the 
weather during the whole of the year, marked by great vicissitudes 
of wet and drought, of heat and cold, and their effects, especially on 
vegetation. 
3. On the Constitution of the Essential Oil of Cajeput. By Mr 
Maximilian Schmidl, Assistant to Dr T. Anderson, Univer- 
sity of Glasgow. 
The author shows, that oil of cajeput is a mixture of an oil boiling 
about 175° Cent., and one or more oils of higher boiling point. In 
the present paper he investigates the first of those substances. 
When purified by repeated distillation, it is a colourless, limpid fluid, 
which by analysis and determination of its vapour density, is shown 
to have the formula C 20 H lg + 2HO. When treated with an- 
hydrous phosphoric acid, it is decomposed, and yields a mixture of 
three different hydrocarbons, to which the author gives the names of 
Cajputene, Isocajputene, and Metacajputene. The two former, 
though differing in properties, have both the formula C 20 H 16 . The 
last, which is a very heavy oil, with a lemon yellow colour and 
brilliant fluorescence, is C 40 H 32 . 
Monohydrate of Cajputene , C 20 H lg + HO, is obtained by treat- 
ing the original oil with commercial sulphuric acid at the boiling 
temperature, under particular precautions. The substance condenses 
to 4 volumes of vapour, although containing one atom of oxygen. 
Hexhydrate of Cajputene , C 20 H lg + 6ITO is obtained by agitat- 
ing the bihydrate with dilute sulphuric acid, and leaving the mixture 
at rest for some time. Beautiful crystals gradually form in the 
mixture. The hexhydrate melts at 120° and solidifies at 85°. It 
is soluble in boiling alcohol and ether, from which it is deposited on 
cooling. Another compound, the constitution of which is not yet 
determined, is obtained by the action of dilute nitric acid in the cold. 
