METEORITES OF NORTH AMERICA. 485 



A portion of a mass (3.49 grams) in the Yale College collection was tested by Wright 10 in 

 1876 for gases, and the following results obtained: 



H C0 2 CO N CH 4 



13.06 80.78 2.20 2.33 1.63 =100.00 

 Traces of chlorine were also obtained. 



Meunier " classed the meteorite as Limerickite, the characteristics of which are as follows : 



Coherent rock of bluish ash-gray color inclosing small, more friable white grains. The principal mass is formed 

 of magnesian silicates, some of whicli resist the action of acids while others are attacked. Nickel-iron and troilite are 

 easily visible. Analysis shows the presence of chromite. 



Brezina 12 in 1885 classified Weston as a breccialike spherical chondrite. He says: 



Tschermak classed Weston as Cw+Cc, which would be correct if part were white and the rest spherically chon- 

 dritic, so that the loose chondri were only in the gray portions. This, however, is not the case, the chondri being found 

 in both parts equally. 



Newton 13 noted that the nickel-iron in Weston formed a system of lamella? resembling 

 that of the Widmannstatten figures, when viewed in a certain light upon a pohshed surface of 

 the stone. 



Farrington 15 called attention to a symmetrical distribution of the masses of the meteorite 

 by weight in falling, as follows: 



In connection with the meteorite fall which occurred at Weston, Connecticut, December 14, 1807, a well-marked 

 distribution of the masses according to weight took place to which attention does not seem to have been called in 

 detail hitherto. In Silliman and Kingsley's account the fact is noted that stones fell from the meteorite at six differ- 

 ent places, over an area 9 to 10 miles in length. It is stated by these authors that these masses fell in a line differing 

 little from the course of the meteor, and probably in the order of the most northerly first and the most southerly last. 

 The relation of the weight of the masses to this order was not traced by these authors, however. This relation as shown 

 by the subsequent account is as follows: The most northerly fall (near Mr. Burr's) broke into fragments from striking 

 a rock of granite. Its estimated weight was 20 to 25 pounds. The next fall was at Mr. Prince's, 5 miles south from 

 Mr. Burr's. This stone weighed 36.5 pounds. About half a mile northwest of this, however, one was found weighing 

 7 to 10 pounds, and half a mile northeast one weighing 13 pounds. These two masses were doubtless related to the 

 36-pound mass. The next mass in a southerly direction was found 2 miles southeast of Mr. Prince's, at Mr. Porter's. 

 This was also broken, but is regarded as having weighed from 20 to 25 pounds, and was probably also related to the 

 36-pound mass. The largest mass of all fell near Mr. Elijah Seely's, about 4 miles from Mr. Prince's. The direction 

 of this locality from the others is not stated, but from the context there can be little doubt that it was south. This 

 mass weighed about 200 pounds. The distribution of the masses thus shows a distinct arrangement according to weight 

 and direction. As Bowditch determined by an independent investigation that the course of the meteor was south 

 7° west, it is evident that the smaller stones fell first. The distribution of the masses, as above noted, also accords 

 with the statements of several witnesses at the time that the sound of three separate explosions accompanied the pas- 

 sage of the meteor. The smaller masses near Mr. Prince's were evidently thrown off at the time of the second explosion. 



Although so large a quantity of stones fell from this meteorite only a small portion seems 

 to have been preserved. Wulfing 14 lists only 18,267 grams as preserved, or about 40 pounds. 

 Of this the Yale University collection possesses the largest amount, 15,300 grams, or about 

 30 pounds. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



1. 1809: Silliman and Kingsley. Memoir on the origin and composition of the meteoric stones which fell from the 



atmosphere in the County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, on the 14th of December, 1807; in a letter, 

 dated February 18, 1808, from Benjamin Silliman, professor of chemistry in Yale College, Connecticut, and Mr. 

 James L. Kingsley to Mr. John Vaughan, librarian of the American Philosophical Society. Read March 4, 1808. 

 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc, vol. 6, pp. 323-325, 335-345: Chemical examination of the stones which fell at 

 Weston (Connecticut) December 14, 1807, by Benjamin Silliman, professor of chemistry in Yale College. 



2. 1810: Warden. Description et analyse d'une pierre ni£teorique toniMe a Weston dans l'Amerique septentrionale, 



le derembre 1807. Ann. Chim., Bd. 73, 1810, pp. 293-299. 



3. 1815: Bowditch. An estimate of the height, direction, velocity, and magnitude of the meteor that exploded over 



Weston, in Connecticut, December 14, 1807. With methods of calculating observations made on such bodies. 

 Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts and Sci., Cambridge, vol. 3, pt. 2, 1815, pp. 213-236. 



4. 1839: Herrick. Account of a meteor seen in Connecticut December 14, 1837; with some considerations on the 



meteorite which exploded near Weston December 14, 1807. Amer. Journ. Sci., 1st ser., vol. 37, pp. 132-135. 



5. 1843: Partsch. Meteoriten, pp. 41-42. 



