^18 MR. B. W. BINJSfEY ON SOME SUPPOSED 



lites, so distinctly and sharply separated from the unaltered 

 mass beneath. Appearances which might seem to indicate 

 a softening of the fragments, have been occasionally recog- 

 nised; but, in general, the condition of the greater part of 

 the mass — the absence of any flattening from the effects of 

 the fall — and the moderate degree of heat perceived on, 

 touching the newly-fallen aerolite— are far from indicating 

 a state of internal fusion during its rapid passage from the 

 limits of the atmosphere of the earth." 



The chemical composition of the three stones previously 

 described in this communication, undoubtedly shows less 

 iron than exists in the majority of meteoric stones hitherto 

 examined. The composition of the Waterloo stone, found 

 in Seneca county, New York, and described by Professor 

 Shepard in his Report on Meteorites, at page 40, No. 3.1, 

 Vol. XI. of SilUman's Journal, has some analogy in its 

 composition and specific gravity to the stones now under 

 consideration. The analysis of this stone gave. 



Silica 78-80 



Peroxide of iron 8-72 



Alumina 6'28 



Moisture 4-76 



Lime and magnesia, and loss 1 '45 



10000 



Specific gravity 2-30. — The Waterville and Concord stones, 

 also described by Professor Shepard at pp. 414 and 416 of 

 No. 18 of Vol. VI. of SilUman's Journal, contain no iron, but^ 

 a large quantity of magnesia. According to Dr. Shepard, 

 the first five chemical elements thus far known to exist in 

 meteoric masses, in the supposed order of their prevalence,^ 

 are as follows: — Iron, nickel, magnesium, oxygen, and sili- 

 con, p. 386, Vol. II. No. 6 (second series), of Sillimar^s, 

 Journal. For a long time scarcely any meteorites were 

 recognised as such, which did not contain a large amount 

 of metallic iron; but, now attention has been directed to 



