384 EEPORT— 1873. 



atomic proportion of iron-oxido to magnesia, from that of the foregoing 

 minerals. No examples of terrestrial enstatites present nearly such a high 

 percentage of iron in their composition as the above specimens of the same 

 mineral found in meteorites are shown to exhibit by their chemical analysis. 



Lauce, and Pont Loisel, Loir-et-Cher, France, 1872, July 23rd, S^ 20™ p.m. 

 (Tours time). — " A brilliant meteor j^assed over a spectator stationed betvp'een 

 Champigny and Bri.say, towards north-east, in the direction of Tours. It 

 presented the appearance of a spear of flame with two spheres of fire of an 

 orange colour. The track of one seemed to incline downwards, that of the 

 other to proceed straightforwards, the whole appearance becoming somewhat 

 more luminous at the instant that a slight divergence of the course of these 

 two spheres was first seen. It was lost to sight behind a cloud at St. Maure, 

 and an explosion was heard at 5'' 26™. Many observers affirm that they 

 heard two distinct explosions very near together ; others noticed but one ; 

 all testify to the appearance of two meteors pursuing nearly the same path. 

 A meteorite fell in a field near Lance, Canton of St. Arnaud, and passed a 

 metre and a half through the light soil into a bed of marl. It weighed 

 47 kilogrammes [10-i lbs.]. Some fragments separated by the fall were 

 found near it." (Note by M. de Tastes, presented by M. Ste-Clair Deville, 

 ' Comptes Eendus,' Julv 29th, 1872.) 



" In the last No. of ' Comptes Eendus ' [August 5th, 1872] M. Daubree 

 records the more recent discovery of a second meteorite at Pont Loisel, 

 12 kilometres [7| miles] south-east of Lance'. The line joining the two 

 localities coincides with the direction of the trajectory of the meteors ; and 

 the Pont-Loisel stone, though much smaller (it weighs 250 grammes [about 

 |- lb.]) bears the closest resemblance as regards mineral characters to tlio 

 Lance stone. The smaller stone fell first [i. e. behind the larger one] — a cir- 

 cumstance observed in former showers — and penetrated the soil to a depth of 

 only half a metre [about 1|- foot]." (Extract from 'The Academy,' Septem- 

 ber 1st, 1872.) 



As a phenomenon perhaps connected with the appearance of the Lance 

 aerolite, it may be added that a large bolide (as described by M. W. de Eon- 

 vielle, in the ' Eevue des Courses Scientifiqucs ' of Aug. 3rd, 1867) was 

 visible at Bayonnc on the evening of the 23rd of July in that year ; but no 

 further particulars of its appearance and of its apparent course were stated. 



Orvinio, Italy, 1872, August 31st, 5'' 15™ a.jx. (Rome time). — In the 

 'Comptes llendus' of October 1872, the occurrences of some bright meteors in 

 August last are thus described by Father Secchi. One of these appeared on the 

 11th, and was visible at Home, Velletri, Naples, and Palermo. A more remark- 

 able one was seen at Rome on the morning of the 31st, at 5** 15™ a.m., as a 

 bright reddish fireball appearing near the S.S.W. horizon, and disappearing in 

 the E.N.E. It moved slowly at first and then rapidly, expanding as it advanced 

 to the form of a cone with a rounded base, and flaring up at disappearance 

 with the emission of several bright lines, which were not seen by all the ob- 

 servers. A train of light lilie smoke remained upon its course, which shone 

 as if illuminated by the sun's rays, although the sun had not yet risen. The 

 sound of a violent explosion was heard a few minutes later which shook the 

 windows of the houses. This was more hke the dull heavy sound of the ex- 

 plosion of a powder-magazine than like thunder ; and it was followed by a 

 rumbling sound like that of distant musketry. Father Secchi heard the 

 noise, but did not see the meteor. It was, however, also seen at Vitcrbo and 

 Veroli ; and the explosion was there heard quite as loud as at Rome. A 

 farmer watching his fields near Porto d'Anzio, saw the meteor at first over 



