ELISHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 19 



them, the only one which it at all resembles being that 

 from "Duel Hill," found in 1873, but several marked dif- 

 ferences are apparent upon direct comparison. \yhile the 

 Alexander county was found some years prior to that from 

 Madison county, the places of find are widely apart, and 

 the densities and analyses do not nearly approximate. 

 This iron does not seem to be especially prone to oxidation, 

 and while it belongs to a class that is not very compact in 

 structure, yet the condition of a part of the surface of this 

 specimen above mentioned would indicate that even when 

 denuded of its natural crust its exterior (unless exposed in 

 a very damp soil) would form a new protective coating of 

 oxide which might preserve the parent mass for many 

 years. 



Unless it has been so destroyed, the original mass must 

 still be in existence, and as has been the case with other 

 meteorites found in that State, it may now be lying, un- 

 recognized, about some farm building, instead of being 

 where it properly belongs — in the State Cabinet. In a 

 State that has been so favored in the number of its me- 

 teoric falls, it would seem to be natural that its people 

 should be alert to gather and preserve these interesting 

 objects. Professor Venable has recently shown that the 

 authenticated fall within the State bears a strikinorlv lar^e 

 ratio to the entire number of all recorded meteoric falls. 

 The recognition and preservation of the earlier North Caro- 

 lina meteorites is almost exclusively due to the commend- 

 able zeal of General Clingman, and now that the intelligent 

 effort of some of her citizens is directed to the subject it 

 may safely be predicted that the list will soon be much 

 extended. 



OSCAWANA ON HUDSON, N. Y.. AugUSt I9, 1S9I. 



