3. A stratum of pure marl, from two to three feet. Below these there was an appearance of sand and blue clay.
The first, or upper stratum, consists of compact peat. This substance, when first taken up, is of a dark brown colour, soft, and rather viscid. Some vegetable fibres and vacuous seeds are distributed throughout the mass. It may be moulded to any convenient form. When perfectly dry, the texture of this variety, of which there is a specimen before you, acquires a high degree of solidity. Its fracture is earthy; the colour is lighter.
I should not have offered more on this subject than the labelled specimen, had I not made a most satisfactory experiment with this kind of fuel, which may be obtained in great abundance in our own State. It is easily kindled; burns with a bright flame; yields a bluish smoke, and produces an odour similar to that which attends the combustion of gramineous substances. But this is momentary. When thoroughly kindled, it burns with less flame, yields a small proportion of blackish smoke, and sulphurous acid gas is evolved, though I cannot discover any pyrites. It burns for a long time, and emits a great body of heat. It leaves a very small proportion of light, grayish white ashes; on which I have as yet made no experiments, having this day, for the first time, paid particular attention to this substance, attracted by the unusual hardness which it acquired since it is in my possession: and not many hours have elapsed since I subjected it to combustion. The attempt succeeded so well, that I cannot refrain from expressing my opinion, that this variety of peat will answer as an excellent substitute for the best Liverpool coal.
Art. VIII. Notices of Geology in the West-Indies.
Art. VIII. Notices of Geology in the West-Indies.
REMARKS.
In the former Number of this work, a notice was published respecting siliceous petrifactions of wood, from Antigua. We now publish a geological sketch of the island, with notices of some other parts of the West Indies. This communication is made by a friend, with permission to publish it. It is a production of the pen of Dr. Nugent, of St. Johns, Antigua, a gentleman of eminent scientific acquirements, who, it is hoped, will continue his laudable and able efforts to illustrate the natural history of the West-Indies.