METEORITES OF NORTH AMERICA. 15 



tered. Later, Bailey, Bement, Kunz, and Ward formed important collections, all of which were 

 placed in institutions, with the exception of that of Bailey, whose last catalogue recorded 309 

 falls weighing about 50 kgs. The last collection formed by Ward was the largest private col- 

 lection of meteorites ever made and excelled all others in number of faUs. In 1904 this collection 

 numbered 603 falls and had a weight of 2,495 kgs. 



Several foreign institutions possess important specimens of North American meteorites, 

 those chiefly rich in this material being the British Museum of Natural History, the Museum of 

 Natural History of Paris, and the Vienna Natural History Museum. Important North American 

 specimens in the British Museum are those of Cosby Creek, Greenbrier County, and Mesquital; 

 in the Paris Museum that of Charcas; and in the Vienna Museum, those of Babb's Mill, Bridge- 

 water, Cabin Creek, Castalia, Chulafinnee, De Cewsville, Eagle Station, Joe Wright, Kendall 

 County, Lick Creek, Mazapil, Mincy, Mount Joy. Nelson County, Prairie Dog Creek, Silver 

 Crown, and Summit. 



Among the authors who have been especially active in the investigation and description 

 of North America meteorites, probably the foremost place should be given to Prof. J. Lawrence 

 Smith, the founder of the J. Lawrence Smith Fund of the National Academy of Sciences. Pro- 

 fessor Smith's contributions to the subject of meteorites cover a period of about 30 years, 

 from 1854 to 1883, and number about 40 titles descriptive of meteorites, chiefly American. 

 This work of Professor Smith is characterized by his customary accuracy and insight and is 

 of enduring value. Its chief importance lies in careful description and correct recognition of 

 chemical and mineralogical characters many of which had been badly confused by other investi- 

 gators. Thus, he was the first to establish the fact that the chief constituent of the Bishopvflle 

 meteorite was enstatite, after other able investigators, such as Waltershausen, Ranrmelsberg, 

 and Rose had failed properly to determine its composition. Smith's establishment of the fact 

 that copper is a constant ingredient of iron meteorites was another important discovery. 



Charles Upham Shepard was also an active investigator of North American meteorites, 

 his investigations covering a period much longer even than those of J. Lawrence Smith. Shep- 

 ard's first paper (on the Richmond meteorite) was published in 1S29 and his last in 1SS5. The 

 intervening years were rarely 'without a description by him of some American meteorite. In 

 addition to his descriptive work, Shepard was very active as a collector, and the preservation 

 of much valuable meteoritic material is due to him. The collection now possessed by Amherst 

 College is chiefly the result of Ms labors. While Shepard was thus an important contributor, 

 from the historical and material side, to the study of meteorites, some of his observations failed 

 to be confirmed by later investigators. Several new species of minerals which he reported in 

 meteorites and several classifications which he outlined have not been generally accepted. 



Other early American investigators who described more than one fall were Jackson, who 

 gave several excellent descriptions and analyses, Troost, and the elder and junior Silliman. 



In later years those connected with the collections at Harvard, Yale, and the National 

 Museum have been chiefly instrumental in advancing our knowledge of American meteorites. 

 They have included at Harvard, Wadsworth and Huntington; at Yale, Brush, E. S. Dana, 

 Penfield, Newton, and Wright; at Washington, Merrill, Eakins, Whitfield, and Tassin; and 

 in New York, Hovey and Davidson. Other investigators who may be mentioned are Genth, 

 N. H. Winchell, and Snow. Among private collectors who were also investigators, G. F. Kimz 

 and H. A. Ward have been especially active, Kunz having collected and described many falls, 

 and Ward having rescued from oblivion many little-known meteorites and given accurate 

 information in regard to them. Other collectors who have furnished both excellent material 

 and descriptions are Howell, Hidden, A. E. and W. M. Foote, Preston, H. L. Ward, and S. C. H. 

 Bailey, while the collection of C. S. Bement contained several meteorites not otherwise preserved. 

 On the astronomical side should be mentioned the important work of Newton, Kirkwood, and 

 Bowditch. 



In spite of the large number of meteorites of Mexican origin, and the fact that many of 

 them have been known for centuries, little investigation has been made of North American 

 meteorites by Mexican authorities. In fact, the catalogue of Castillo may be said to be the only 



