[JOHNSTON-ELLSWORTH] ANNAHEIM METEORITE 71 



site. With a somewhat coarsely etched plate and a magnification 

 of about 30 diameters the microcrystalline structure of the kamacite 

 bands may be readily studied; the octahedral crystals lie for the 

 greater part in parallel position imparting a beautiful lattice-like 

 appearance to the plate; here and there, however, beautifully defined 

 examples of twinning may be observed ; the twinning takes place 

 parallel to the octahedral plane, producing so-called spinel twins. 



In spite of its highly crystalline and complex character this iron 

 is quite malleable. 



In studying the Annaheim meteorite some features presented 

 themselves in connection with its position and condition at the time 

 of its discovery which point almost conclusively to its having been a 

 comparatively recent arrival and one circumstance at least would 

 indicate that it had fallen during the winter season. 



The grass on which it was resting had not undergone complete 

 decay; the black coating was complete over the surface; the iron 

 sulphides so susceptible to oxidation showed only a tarnish as evidence 

 of weathering. These facts may be taken as certain proof that the 

 meteorite had not been lying for a long time where it was found. 

 It was resting on sod unaccompanied by evidences of sharp impact 

 with or excavation of the soil. It would appear to have come to rest 

 on the sod following a period of delay by some intervening medium 

 which had since disappeared ; that this medium must have been soft 

 and of very mild abrasive properties is evfdenced in the fact that the 

 surface of the specimen was free from marring. The only medium 

 which, under the particular circumstances, involved could comply 

 with these conditions is winter snow. 



With these considerations before him the senior author instituted 

 inquiries with a view to ascertaining whether any meteoric phenomena 

 of special interest had been observed in the district about Annaheim 

 within a few years of the time when the metorite was discovered. 

 The result has been a large number of responses from various residents 

 of the district stating' that meteoric phenomena of a startling nature 

 occurred there about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon of W^ednes- 

 day, January 21, 1914. The date is attested by the officiai record of 

 the substation of the Meteorological Service at Muenster and in a 

 meteorological record kept by Mr. Pius Mutter of Pilger. Further 

 confirmation of the date is furnished in an account of the occurrence 

 contained in the issue of St. Peter's Bote for Thursday, January 29, 

 1914, published at Muenster by Reverend Peter Windschiegcl, to 

 whom the senior author is indebted for his interest in obtaining 

 information. The phenomena in question were observed at Leofeld, 



