ained. A general idea of their
composition may be derived from the subjoined analyses:--

Water 1.95 1.90
Organic matter 2.59 6.85
Phosphate of lime 55.21} 61.15
Phosphate of iron 3.84}
Carbonate of lime 26.70 16.20
Sulphate of lime 1.97 "
Alkaline salts 1.85 3.21
Sand 5.89 11.65
------ ------
100.00 100.00

Within the last two or three years, coprolites have been found in great
abundance in France, but they are of inferior quality, and rarely
contain more than 40 per cent of phosphates.

_Apatite_, or mineral phosphate of lime, is found in large deposits in
different places. It is particularly abundant in Spain, and occurs also
in America and Norway. From the latter country it has been imported to
some extent; and during the last year considerable quantities have been
brought from Spain, and the importations will undoubtedly increase very
largely as the means of transport improve in that country. Spanish
apatite contains--

Water 0.80
Phosphate of lime 93.30
Carbonate of lime 0.50
Chlorine, etc. traces
Sand 4.70
-----
99.30

Several other varieties of mineral phosphates have been imported under
the name of guano. The most important is Sombrero Island guano, which is
found on a small island in the Gulf of Mexico, where it occurs in a
layer said to be forty feet thick. It contains--

Water 8.96
Phosphate of lime 37.71
Phosphates of alumina and iron 44.21
Phosphate of magnesia 4.20
Sulphate of lime 0.86
Carbonate of lime 3.36
Sand 0.70
------
100.00

A somewhat similar substance, but in hard crusts, has been imported,
under the names of Maracaybo guano, Pyroguanite, etc., which contains--

Water 1.03
Organic matter 6.78
Phosphates 75.69
Alkaline salts 4.91
Sand 11.64
------
100.00
Phosphoric acid in the alkaline } 0.78
sa