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A CATALOGUE OF OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. 125 
oxidation of the iron. All our other aérolites are of a compact texture. I 
may note here, that we now possess in our collection ten specimens, com- 
prising six varieties of aérolites, and four of meteoric iron from Siberia, 
Brazil and India. One of the Society’s aérolites is also well entitled to be 
called meteoric iron, as it consists mainly of that metal (and no doubt nickel) 
rather than an aérolite, by which we usually designate the more earthy- 
looking stones. 
The magnetism of the Kandes aérolite is nowhere apparent except at the 
patch of pyrites (magnetic pyrites?) on the piece which has the crust, but 
here it is strong and distinct. 
From its extreme friability I have not ventured to take its specific gravity, 
which is about 4 or 45,1 judge, for it might crumble to picces in the water, 
and is too rough and tender to admit of varnishing. Specific gravity how- 
ever is an indication of no value in these heterogeneous compounds. 
The green crystals, when examined separately, effect a somewhat rhom- 
boidal or cubical form, but none are clearly defined. Their colour is a 
bright, clear, and very light grass- green. 
List of Meteorolites in the Collection of the Asiatic Society, Jan. 1, 1845. 
1. Fell at Moradabad, 1808, Capt. Herring. One piece of this is rather 
friable, three pieces. 
2. Dr. Tytler’s aérolite at Allahabad, three large pieces. 
3. Aérolite fell about 40 miles to the west of Umbala, between the Jumna 
and Punja, 1822-23. Obtained by Capt. Murray; given by Mr. J. Bird to 
Mr. Cracroft. 
4, Fell at Bitour and Shapoor, 75 miles N.W. of Allahabad, 30th No- 
vember 1822. 
5. Fell at Mhow Ghazeepore, February 1827, R. Barlow. 
6. Fell at Manegaon in Khandeish, July 1843, Capt. J. Abbott, B.A., and 
J. Bell, Esq., Bombay, C. S., Collector of Khandeish. 
Meteoric Iron, or Stones having a large proportion of it. 
1. Meteoric stone, containing iron and nickel, fell at Panganoor in 1811. 
Mr. Ross of Cuddahpah. 
2. Meteoric iron; Siberia, Pallas. 
3. Meteoric iron; Sergipe, Brazil, Mornay and Wollaston. 
4. Lightning stone of Nepal; not examined, but may be meteoric. 
Blowpipe Examination.— The grass-green crystals ubove described. Per 
se infusible, but take a rusty brown appearance, as of semi-fusion or oxidation 
on the exterior, remaining still translucent. On platina wire, with borax and 
phosphate of soda, fuses at first in part only (a lump remaining), giving a 
light clear olive glass ; adding more of the flux, it finally dissolves with various 
shades of olive and grass-green according to the proportions of assay and 
flux. A minute crystal in muriatic acid does not soften, gelatinise, or colour 
it by several days’ digestion. These are doubtless meteoric olivine. 
The white friable part, taken as free as possible from the gray specks and 
entirely so from the green crystals. Jn the forceps slightly oxidates to a rusty 
appearance at the outer part, but does not fuse. 
On platina wire and with soda. Fuses toa dirty olive-coloured bead, which 
in the reducing flame gives metallic iron with some earthy residuum. With 
nitrate of cobalt only a dull rusty colour. Hence the absence of alumina, 
except perhaps in very minute proportion. 
The metallic-looking vein was assayed in various manners for nickel, but 
no trace of it could be elicited, the vein being apparently pure pyrites. 
