Petroleum reservoirs, or pockets, contain, along with the petroleum, gases, salt water, sand, and foreign substances of varying nature. The liquids and gases in these pockets are often submitted to very great pressure. If we make an aperture in the pocket, there will occur, by reason of the tension, and according to the location of the aperture, a sudden exit of gas, petroleum, salt water, etc. Yet it may happen that as the sounding well has been bored through the upper part of the pocket, where the gases are accumulated, only the latter will make their exit without any trace of petroleum. Under such circumstances the appearance of inflammable gases at the surface indicates pretty certainly the presence of inflammable liquids in the region explored, and will justify further exploration or the fitting of suction pumps to the well holes. It will be understood that a natural flow of petroleum will occur only so long as the pressure is sufficient, and that a pocket may cease to give mineral oil spontaneously, even though it may still contain large quantities of it. This is the reason why at present spouting wells are not abandoned when they cease to operate, but are worked by lift pumps. The three diagrams, 1, 2, and 3, will give an idea of the different configurations that petroleum pockets may present. In No. 1, as the well hole reaches the summit of the gas chamber, the gases alone will be forced to the surface by reason of the internal pressure, and not the slightest trace of petroleum will accompany them. In No. 2, as the well ends at the side of the pocket, only a portion of the petroleum--that which is included between the dotted lines--will come to the surface. In No. 3, as the well ends at the lowest extremity of the pocket, nearly the entire contents of the latter will be forced out naturally. It results from this that in petroleum exploitation the sudden appearance and disappearance of the spouting in no wise proves that the pocket is exhausted.--_Science et Nature_. [Illustration: CONFIGURATION OF PETROLEUM POCKETS.] ALUMINUM AND ITS ALLOYS. Symbol, Al. Equivalent, old, 13.7; new. 27.49. Specific gravity, cast, 2.46. Hammered, 2.67. Specific heat, 0.2143, Heat conductivity, 0.66 on silver scale = 100. Melting point, 1,250° or 1,560° Fah., according to different authorities. A shining, white, sonorous metal, having a shade between silver and platinum. It is malleable and ductile, does not oxidize when exposed to dry or moist air, and is not chemically affected by hot or cold water. Sulphureted hydrogen gas, which so readily tarnishes silver, has no action upon this metal. Having but one defect in its uses as a pure metal (difficulty in soldering), it enters largely as an alloy of other metals, making the baser metals more valuable in resisting oxidation, and as a good as well as cheap imitation of the precious metals.