[ 55 2 ] 
I fhall conclude this paper with obferving the fe- 
veral particulars, in which all the fpecies of the bitu- 
minous foffils before-mentioned refemble each other. 
They feem to be generally found between beds of 
clay, or ftone ; are of a dark brown, or black co- 
lour, of a laminated texture : pliable when modi, 
and frelh dug, but crifp and brittle when dry ; full 
of cracks, and eafily breaking tranfverfely ; they all 
link in water, and emit the fame naufeous and bi- 
tuminous fmell ; they differ in being more or lets 
folid, heavy, and inflammable, according to the pro- 
portions and principles of which they confifl: ; and if 
any doubt could remain of their being a mineral 
fubftance, it muft be removed by the following ana- 
lyfis. 
One pound of Bovcy coal, of the woody kind, 
powdered, put into a glafs retort, and diftilled in fand, 
yielded four ounces and a half of phlegm, which had 
the appearance of common water, but fomewhat of a 
bituminous fmell and tafle ; near four ounces of a 
turbid whitifh bituminous liquor, of an intolerable 
fcetid fmell, and extremely pungent to the tongue; 
about two drachms of a heavy bituminous matter, 
which would not mix with the liquor above-men- 
tioned, but funk entirely to the bottom, and (which 
is very remarkable) there was not the leaft appear- 
ance of any light oil floating on the bituminous li- 
quor. There remained in the retort about feven 
ounces of a very black powder, which had the fame 
bituminous fmell, not very heavy ; fome of which 
being put on a red-hot iron, emitted a little fmoak, 
but no flame. 
4 
