1829.] 
Miscellaneous Notices. 
247 
odour as the first. I believe this acid to differ from the formic ; but I have no 
means of determining the point. 
This insect is a common one here; I have also seen it in the .Jungle Mehals and 
Ramghur districts; but I do not recollect having before perceived the above proper- 
ties : I should observe that the morning was foggy with a heavy dew falling. 
In a species of Phrynidea, I have also found an acid, having a similar odour to 
that of the abovemencioned insect ; but it is emitted from the posterior part of the 
animal (perhaps from the jointed tail) with such force as to be immediately divid- 
ed, and to put on the appearance of steam or smoke : may not the stories of insects 
spitting fire, have their origin from something of this kind ? It happened once that 
this insect ejected his acid upon my hand, and I think the stain was permanent, 
like to that caused by nitric acid. 
In order that others may determine the species of the above apterous beetle, 
and the acid it emits, I subjoin a few of its characteristics. 
Colour. Black, with six white spots on the elytra and thorax. 
Size. Length two inches ; breadth of the thorax 4 inch, of the abdomen f inch. 
Antenna. Setaceous ; placed before the eyes ; the scapus and pedicellus whit* 
above, and black below. 
Mouth. Perfect. 
Mandibles. Forficular ; toothed ; tapering to a point. 
Maxillae. Hard ; lobe, fixed, hooked, and internally hairy. 
Palpi. Six, two labial, four maxillary. 
Labrum. Square, entire, surface uneven, naked, and horizontal. 
Labium. Hard, long, narrow, externally convex, internally concave. 
The male i 3 distinguished from the female, by his having the prothorax length- 
ened backward, into two processes; and he is rather larger than the female in 
the unimpregnated state. 
Midnapore , 2 d June 1829. T. J. P. 
2. On the Production of Cancar. 
~K substance has been lately noticed as being common in all the shallow outlets 
of the salt water lakes or marshes, which seems to bear some affinity to the descrip- 
tion of lime called “ red nodular cancar ." 
The physical history of cancar has always remained a pnzzle to inquirers. It is 
difficult to conceive, that a substance of such general occurrence and uniform ap- 
pearance can be the detritus of any stratum of limestone of prior existence to it ; 
and yet few would be hardy enough to advance even a supposition that cancar could 
have been created in the form it presents to our eye. 
I find it equally difficult to persuade myself as to convince the few whom I have 
consulted, that the substance now noticed perfectly and satisfactorily solves the pro- 
blem ; still as there is more than mere room for hypothesis, perhaps some of your 
more scientific correspondents will be induced by this notice to bestow a somewhat 
more patient and profitable investigation upon the subject, and thereby confer a be- 
nefit upon the science of geology. 
The substance when first taken from the bed of these shallow creeks is nodular, 
hard to fracture, from one to three inches in diameter, and irregular. Its colour red- 
dish while fresh and wet. The whole surface appears alive with myriads of shell 
fish adhering to the surface. 
It is found in greatest abundance and perfection in the months succeeding the 
rains, when the water is fresh in the lakes, and the discharge of water greatest. It 
almost disappears (or perhaps decomposes), in the dry months, when the waters of 
the lake become salt. It docs not, however, entirely disappear ; the red nodules are 
still found, but not so hard and almost without the shelly coating. 
When allowed to dry in the atmosphere the colour changes to a whitish grey; and 
when fractured and examined, there appears to be a perfect coating of minute cel- 
lular shell-work upon a nucleus of iron clay, with an admixture of sandy particles. 
To this cellular coating the shell fish adhere closely. 
The substance when burnt does not slake ; but, which is curious, on exposure to 
the air after burning, although as hard as stone, in a few days it loses its hardness, 
begins to crack, and crumbles to the touch. When in this state, ready to crumble 
to pieces, immersion in water appears to restore its hardness instantly and perma- 
nently. 
The mass is evidently not entitled to be classed among the cancan as found ; but 
perhaps it is worthy speculation to inquire what would follow, if a stratum of such 
