110 
POPULAE SCIENCE EEVIEW. 
Vanadic Acid . — In the Gomptes Rendus for July 20th a note appears 
from Dr. Phipson, describing the results of several analyses of clays 
made with a view to ascertain the proportion of this acid present in these 
compounds. He states that whilst 44 London clay ” contains only 0*23 
per cent, of vanadic acid as much as 1*90 or even 2 per cent, may be 
found in a substance to which he has given the special name of 
44 vanadium ochre.” 
The Ethers contained in Wines. — M. Berthelot continues his researches 
into the nature of the above. They are principally ether or vinic acids 
which are usually fixed and do not add to the odour ; it is probable, 
that the taste of wine at different ages depends in great measure on 
their development. The peculiar vinous flavour, however, is not due 
to them ; the principles to which this is owing may be extracted by 
mixing wine with ether and evaporating at a low temperature and removed 
from the contact of the air. The extract obtained by this process is 
composed of different substances. The following is its composition in 
Bordeaux and Burgundy wines’:- — 
1. A small quantity of amylic alcohol. 
2. An essential oil, insoluble in water (oenanthic ether?). 
3. A small amount of acid. 
4. A peculiar principle which reduces an ammoniacal solution of silver, 
and turns potash brown. 
This principle is almost fixed, although slightly volatile in ether vapour ; 
is very soluble in water and alcohol ; ether removes it from water, heat 
alters it rapidly, and its extract is soon destroyed if exposed to the air. 
It is entirely distinct from ordinary aldehyde — which, according to the 
author, is not found in wines; — it is probably a derivative of the polyatomic 
alcohols, and belongs to a group of highly-oxygenated aldehydes. 
5. A slightly volatile principle with a faint vinous odour, which resists 
the action of ammoniacal oxide of silver, and which may result from 
some transformation of the preceding body. 
GEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGY. 
Human Jaw at Moulin-Quignon . — The evidence in this matter and the 
conclusions arrived at during the conference of the French and English 
savans, have been clearly set forth in a lengthy article in the 44 Natural 
History Review.” The verdict is in support of the French opinion, that 
the jaw in question was not fraudulently introduced into the deposits, but 
is a hond-fide fossil of the same age as the beds in which it was found. 
It is, however, creditable to the calm and philosophic mode of weighing- 
evidence adopted by our English men of science that Mr. Busk and Dr. 
Falconer have withheld their assent to such startling conclusions as those 
terminating the procds-verbaux of the commission. The grounds upon 
which these gentlemen found their belief that the jaw and 4< hdchcs ” are 
spurious may be summed up thus : — I. With regard to the hdches — (a) 
