MINERALOGY. 
€. It foftens in a common degree of heat, fo 
as to Hick to the teeth like pitch. 
d. It is of a black or grey colour, and of a 
dull and fine-grained texture. The grey 
is reckoned the beft, and is fold very dear. 
This drug is brought to Europe from 
the Indies; it is employed in medicine, 
and as a perfume. 
SECT. CXLVL 
Amber, Amhrajlava% Succimm^ Ele5lrum, 
This is a fubftance which is dug out of the 
earth, and found on the fea-coafts. Accord- 
ing to the experiments of Mr. Bourdeiin, it 
confifts of an inflammable fubftance, united 
with the acid of common fait, which feems 
to have given it its hardnefs. It is fuppofed 
to be of vegetable origin, fince it is faid to 
be found together v/ith wood in the earth. 
By diftiilation it yields water, oil, and a vola- 
tile fait, which the abovementioned author 
has found to be the acid of common fait, 
united with a little of the phlogifton. There 
are often found fifli, infe(fl:3, and vegetables 
included in it, which teftify its once having 
been liquid. It is more tranfparent than moft 
part of the other bitumens, and is doubtlefs 
that fubftance which firft gave rife to eledri- 
cal experiments. 
Its varieties are reckoned from the colour 
and tranfparency : it is found 
A. Opake, Succinum c^acum, 
a. Brown. 
h. White, 
r. Blackifh. 
L4 
2?. Tranf- 
