1877. J OjO [Kirk wood. 



ished from 38 to 29 miles. The elevation, when over Erie County, Penn- 

 sylvania, was almost certainly less than 30 miles — probably not more than 

 35. After the explosion, near the South-western border of New York, the 

 meteor became almost immediately extinct. In view of tliese facts it 

 seems extremely improbable that any part of the mass could liave escaped 

 out of the atmosphere. "What Ijecame of the dissevered fragments, or why 

 none have been hitherto found near the terminus of the track, may be dif- 

 ficult of explanation. 



Velocity. 



I have not learned that the time of the meteor's visibility was by any 

 one accurately measured. The slowness of the apparent motion was, 

 however, very remarkable ; being compared by many to that of a flock of 

 wild geese. Several observers estimated the duration of flight at nearly 

 two minutes. The velocity with reference to the earth's surface was pro- 

 bably between 8 and 13 miles per second, and with reference to the 

 sun, between 25 and 30. 



V. and VI. 



The Meteors op January 3 and January 30, 1877. 



The fall of aerolites, attended with the usual meteoric phenomena, 

 occurred in Warren County, Missouri, on the 3d of January, 1877, and 

 in Georgia, January 20th, Fragments of these bodies have been secured 

 by Professor J. Lawrence Smitli, of Louisville, Kentucky, from whom full 

 descriptions and analyses may soon be expected. 



VII. 



The Meteor of January 23, 1877. 



About 4 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, January 33, 1877, a splendid 

 meteor was seen at Gray's Mills, five miles North of Bloomington, Monroe 

 County, Indiana, by Mr. Daniel J. Stout and several other gentlemen in 

 company with him. Its position when first seen was nearly Southeast 

 from the place of observation, and about 35° above the horizon. Its visible 

 track was very nearly perpendicular to the earth's surface. When near the 

 horizon the meteor disappeared behind a hill South-east of the obser\'ers, 

 but the disappearance was followed by no detonation. The same meteor 

 was observed by a number of persons in Decatur County, five miles East 

 of Greensburgh, latitude 39<^ 27' North, longitude 85° 28' West. Accord- 

 ing to the Indianapolis Daily Journal, of January 25th, the meteor "dis- 

 appeared just as it seemed to touch tlie earth, apparently not more than one- 

 fourth of a mile distant. It presented the appearance of a flexible band of 

 beautifully polished silver, and as it pursued its downward course waved 

 like a ribbon in the breeze. Exclamations of astonishment and admira- 

 tion burst simultaneously from the lips of all who saw it." A letter in the 

 Cincinnati Weekly Oazette, dated at Scott's Post Oflace, Kenton County, 



