202 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [mAY 26, 



was a very thin scum of a black substance, evidently graphite, 

 soft enough to mark white paper ; a feldspar (anorthite) was 

 likewise observed, and enstatite was also present. 



Professor H. A. Newton says: " The path that satisfies best 

 the accounts that appear to be reliable was directed from a point 

 a little north of west and somewhat higher than the sun, the sun 

 being then about 20° high and due west. The velocity of the me- 

 teorite may be safely assumed to have been greater than that of 

 Encke's comet at distance unity, and less than that belonging 

 to a parabolic orbit. With this assumption the orbit would 

 be inclined to the ecliptic between 10° and 20° with direct mo- 

 tion. The ascending node is in longitude 42.5°. The body had 

 passed perihelion several weeks, how long depends mainly upon 

 the inclination to the horizon of the path through the air. 

 The perihelion distance was probably between 0.50 and 0.70, 

 this element also being largely dependent upon the same inclina- 

 tion. Better observations of this inclination than are now in 

 hand are hoped for." 



This is the fourth meteorite that has been seen to fall in Iowa. 

 The other three falls were as follows: At Hartford, Linn County, 

 February 25th, 1847 ; at West Liberty, Iowa County, February 

 12th, 1875 ; and the great fall of siderolites at Estherville, Em- 

 met County, May 10th, 1879, which comprised over two thou- 

 sand pieces weighing from one-tenth of an ounce to four hun- 

 dred pounds. 



The following analyses and note are kindly furnished by Mr. 

 L. (t. Eakins, of the laboratory of the U. S. Geological Sur- 

 vey : 



Approximate Gomposition of the Mass. 



Nickeliferous Iron 19.40 



Troilite 6.19 



Silicates soluble in HCl 36.04 



Silicates insoluble in HCl 38.37 



100.000 



Analysis of the Nickeliferous Iron. 



Fe 92.65 



Ni 6.11 



Co 65 



P tr. 



S tr. 



99.41 

 Specific gravity of the mass, 3.804 at 28.5° Celsius. 



