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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
absolutely no sugar, whilst in others nearly ripe 8-87 per cent, of sugar was 
found ; but the amount of free acid estimated in a hundred grapes was 
almost the same in three samples of Gutedel, and actually increased with 
the ripening of the Muscatel. 
The Water in the Bronze Vase found at Pompeii, upon which the Daily 
Telegraph was so eruditely classical, has been analysed. It was found per- 
fectly limpid, and was hardly rendered turbid by a prolonged ebullition. 
At the temperature of 20° C. its sp. gr. is 1*001, about that of distilled water. 
The quantity of fixed matters left by evaporation was 1-032 gr. per litre. 
The gases disengaged by ebullition consisted of air and carbonic acid. Lime 
and magnesia were found in it ; also phosphates in a small quantity ; also 
some traces of sulphates, and even silica and iron. There was not the slightest 
trace of copper. — Vide Comptes Bendus, May 20. 
GEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGY. 
The Formation of Gypsums and Dolomites. — At the meeting of the French 
Academy on the 22nd of April, Dr. Sterry Hunt, the celebrated Canadian 
geologist, read a paper on the subject. As usual he brought his profound 
knowledge of chemistry to bear on the questions discussed and he stated the 
following conclusions as resulting from his enquiries and investigations : — 
1. That the mutual reaction of bicarbonate of lime and sulphate of mag- 
nesia gave rise to sulphate of lime and bicarbonate of magnesia. 2. That 
all the carbonates of magnesia arose from the decomposition of the primi- 
tive silicates, aided by atmospheric carbonic acid. 3. That a double 
anhydrous carbonate of lime and magnesia, having the composition of 
dolomite, can be produced by heating slowly, from 120° to 150° C., a 
mixture of lime and hydrated carbonate of magnesia. 4. That there are 
dolomites which contain greater or less proportions of magnesia, whether 
in the state of hydrated carbonate of magnesia or in the state of simple 
hydrate. 
A New Volcano in the South Seas. From a letter forwarded by our consul 
at Navigators’ Islands, we learn that a volcano has just broken out at Manua, 
about two miles from the islands of Oloscqa. It was preceded by a violent 
shock of earthquake, which commenced on the 5th of September, and on 
the 12th dense thick smoke rose out of the sea. Lava was thrown up, dis- 
colouring the water for many miles round, and destroying large quantities 
of fish. Wherever the ashes fell on the adjacent island they destroyed all 
vegetation. Up to the middle of November dense smoke was still being 
thrown up. It is said that the smoke rose higher than the neighbouring 
island, which is over 2000 feet high. The consul has been unable to ascertain 
whether there is any bank thrown up in the water. 
A Deposit of Bituminous Gneiss . — At the last annual meeting of the 
Swedish Academy of Science, M. Nordenskiold announced that a discovery 
of a large deposit of bituminous gneiss, 33 metres in thickness, embedded 
in layers of gneiss and mica-schist has been made in the hill of Nullaberg 
in Sweden. It is composed in addition to feldspar, quartz and mica of a 
