Dr Traill on the Specyic Gravity of Sea Water. 185 
fail to have anticipated Pallas in the observation, that the green 
veins were more phosphoric than the violet ones ; and, out of 
respect to the character of that distinguished female, we shall, in 
our next history of phosphorescence, place her by the side of 
Benvenuto Cellini ; and, in virtue of this resolution, we hereby 
replace the Phosphoric Gem in the diadem of her Imperial 
Majesty, and renounce for ever to her and the h.eirs of 
her royal reputation, all the honour of a discovery, which, in 
a selfish moment, we are said to have assumed to ourselves, to 
the deep distress of M, Aragq, and all lovers of truth and 
candour, 
D. B. 
XXXI. — Experiments an the Specific Gi'avity of Sea Water 
drawn in differe^it Latitudes, and from various Depths in the 
Atlantic. By Thomas Stewart Traill, M. D. F. R. S. E. 
&c. &c. In a Communication to Dr Brewster. 
In the course of some experiments on the specific gravity of 
different fluids, I had occasion to examine sea-water drawn in 
different latitudes, and from various depths in the Atlantic 
Ocean. The result is somewhat remarkable ; and though the 
number of my experiments may not entitle me to deduce from 
them a general law, yet their publication may excite the atten- 
tion of those who have opportunities of repeating them. The 
specimens of sea-water were procured at my request by nautical 
friends some time ago ; but all were taken up within the same 
year. Each specimen filled a common glass bottle, and had a 
label immediately affixed to it, indicating the place where it^was 
obtained. The water, from considerable depths, for want of bet- 
ter apparatus, was procured by the following contrivance. It was 
found that a bottle might be so corked as to prevent the admis- 
sion of water, until the pressure of the superincumbent column, 
on sinking it by an attached weight, pushed the cork inwards, 
when the escape of the air, and the filling of the bottle with 
water, again forced the cork into its neck, and thus obviated the 
change of displacement of the included water, as the bottle was 
drawn upward. The pressure required to fo|:ce the cork beijpg 
