192 report— 1877, 



struck the roof with sufficient force to cut a hole in the metal ; but it did not 

 pass through, bounding back a few feet and coming to re3t on the roof. Two 

 observers who were at a window close by heard the sharp concussion when 

 it struck the roof, and one of them immediately picked up the meteorite as 

 it lay near her on the roof, but let it fall again, rinding it too hot to retain in 

 the baud. It is described as of a plano-convex form, one inch and three 

 quarters along its greatest length and about one third of an inch thick. " The 

 convex surface possesses the usual crusted appearance, while the inside or 

 plane surface differs from ordinary meteorites in possessing the appearance of 

 sulphuret of iron, subjected to some degree of heat, instead of nickeliferous 

 iron. One might easily infer that the meteorite was shaled off from a large 

 bolide that passed over the city at that time." It is much to be desired that 

 this meteorite will pass into the hands of a scientific expert for examination 

 and description. 



Prof. Kirkwood describes eight large fireballs, between July 1876 and 

 February 1877 (American Journal of Science, 1877, vol. xiv. p. 75) ; tbe 

 time and the real path aud appearance of one was : — 



187(3, July 8th, 8.45 p.m. — From an altitude of 88 miles, passed N. 7S° W. 

 across the N.E. of Indiana and exploded over Lake Michigan at an altitude 

 of 34 miles. The path was iuclined 21° to the horizon ; no detonation 

 reported ; train visible 40 minutes. The account of the meteor given in 

 Appendix II. of this Report contains all the observed particulars of its 

 appearance. 



1876, December 21st, 8.40 p.m. — Rochester, Fulton Co., Indiana. 



[Lat. 41° 8', long. 80° 12' *.] 



This remarkable meteor passed over the States of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, 

 Indiana, and Ohio, a distance from E. to W. of about 800 miles.- It burst into 

 numerous fragments during its passage, pi-oducing " a flock of brilliant balls 

 chasing each other across the sky, the number being variously estimated from 

 twenty to one hundred." Over all the regions of Central Illinois a series of ter- 

 rific explosions was heard. Over the northern part of Indiana the passage of 

 the body was followed by loud explosions. A piece of the meteorite, a few 

 ounces in weight, fell near Rochester, la. A portion in the possession of Prof. 

 Shepard was discovered on the following day lying in the snow. Two places 

 were noticed where it had previously struck, whence it had bounded to its rest- 

 ing place. It is stated by Prof. Shepard to closely resemble the meteorite of 

 Pegu, India (27th December, 1857), and to consist of dark ash-grey spherules 

 (Boltonite),imbcdded in a nearly white pulverulent matrix, " chladnite," olivine 

 in distinct grains, nickel-iron, and a little troilitc. The specific gravity of a 

 fragment partially covered with crust was 3-65. 



1877, January 3rd (sunrise). — Warren County, Missourif. 

 [Lat. 38° 50', long. 91° 10'.] 



A brief note by Dr. Lawrence Smith records the occurrence. At sunrise 

 the usual phenomena accompanying the fall of meteorites attracted the 



* H. A. Newton, 'Amer. Journ. Se.' 1S77, vol. xiii. p. 1GG; J. L. Smith, ' Amer. Jouni. 

 So.' 1877, vol. xiii. p. 243, and xiv. p. 219; C. TJ. Shepard, 'Amer. Journ. Sc.' 1877, vol. 

 xiii. p. 207. 



t J. L. Smith, ' Amer. Journ. Sc' 1877, vol. xiii. p. 213, and vol, xiv. p. 222. 



