SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
311 
nace tlie crucible was withdrawn, and at the bottom there was found a per- 
fectly melted button of platinum of the same weight.” 
The speedy Solutim of Iodine. — Dr. J. Walz says, in a tolerably late com- 
munication, “ I find that glaciaJ acetic acid is an excellent solvent for 
iodine, certainly not inferior to alcohol. On heating acetic acid with excess 
of iodine to boiling, and then allowing to cool slowly, beautiful large, 
slender crystals of iodine will form (sometimes half an inch long). The 
crystals formed from super-saturated alcohol solution of iodine are short, of 
arrowhead shape, and by no means so abundant, for glacial acetic acid takes 
up far more iodine hot than cold. I hope yon will make this easily- 
executed experiment, and you will then see the finest iodine crystals yet 
produced. K saturated alcoholic and glacial solutions of iodine are mixed 
in equal proportions, and allowed to stand, acetic ether is formed. The pre- 
sence of a little MnOg and a drop of SO 4 H 2 seems to promote the formation, 
but is quite unnecessary. 
The Analysis of Charcoal. — This has been recently done by Mr. A. S. 
Wilson, who has published his account of it in a long paper in the 
Chemical News.” It may he stated that the method of analysis pursued 
gives the following results : 
Insoluble carbonaceous matter 10-75 
Nitrogen removed by dissolving in acid . . . 0-13 
Carbon (nitrogenous) 10-88 
Water by direct estimation 7-48 
Unaccounted for 0-66 
Loss on ignition ' . . 19-02 
According to Mr. Patterson’s method, we should have — 
Carbon, including some insoluble organic matter . 10-75 
Organic matter dissolved 3-54 
Water at 212° 4*73 
Loss on ig-nition 19*02 
GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY. 
A Neio Fossil Fresh-xmter Crustacean has been described by Professor Dr. 
Anton Eric. It was found in a fresh-water deposit near Bilin, in Bohemi^ 
The thorax is eight mm. long, and three mm. broad ; the mesial line of the 
front part shows a high crest, which bears six spines, pointing towards the 
rostrum. On each side of the crest are situated what appear to be the eyes j 
the facettes of which, however, cannot be identified. The inner antennae 
have a three-jointed basal portion ; only two of the whips (Geissel) are 
preserved. These are of the length of the thorax, the outer one being con- 
siderably stronger than the inner one. Of the third whip (Geissel), which 
true Palaemons do not possess. Dr. Eric can only detect a rudiment. The 
outer antennae have a large scale at their base, which covers about ten 
j.oints of the antennae. The whip is much stronger than those of the inner 
