ON THE EXPLORATION OF THE SETTLE CAVES. 377 



and at points not unfrequently miles distant. They may vary greatly in 

 size ; and stones as small as a pea or bean may be sought for. The 

 meteoric masses with which we are at present acquainted are — 1, heavy 

 metallic bodies, covered with a dull, often black, crust, sometimes having 

 a pitted surface (meteoric iron) ; 2, heavy metallic masses with a more 

 crackly exterior, and hollows in which the presence of rocky matter can 

 be recognised (siderolite) ; 8, and rock-like fragments, often grey, some- 

 times white, and occasionally, although rarely, black in the interior 

 (sometimes little brilliant particles of metal are observed, disseminated 

 through the matrix), and always coated on the exterior with a black 

 fused crust, sometimes dull, sometimes lustrous (meteoric stone). Me- 

 teoric stones are sometimes broken by the fall and the interior revealed ; 

 by the disruption of a stone during its descent, the freshly fractured 

 sui'faces are exposed to intense heat, and become of a darker hue, but 

 have not a glaze like the actual crust. When fragments of the same 

 shower of stones have fallen some miles asunder, such partially altered 

 surfaces should be fitted' together, in order to see whether they form 

 portion of a larger mass. The fall of a light chocolate-brown substance, 

 resembling amadou, enclosing little brilliant particles of meteoric iron, 

 may accompany the fall of meteoric stones. 



Sixth Report of the Committee, consisting of Sir John Lubbock, 

 Bart, Professor Pkestwich, Professor Busk, Professor T. McK. 

 Hughes, Professor W. B. Dawkins, Professor Miall, Eev. H. W. 

 Crosskey, Mr. H. C. Sorby, and Mr. E. H. Tiddeman, appointed 

 for the purpose of assisting in the Exploration of the Settle 

 Caves ( Victoria Cave). Brawn up by Mr. K. H. Tiddeman 

 (Reporter). 



Tour Committee have to report that the Settle Local Committee, with 

 whom they have the pleasure of co-operating, have spent in the course of 

 the year, from September 3rd, 1877, down to the end of June of this year 

 (1878), 169Z. 19s. 10d, of which sum 100Z. was granted by the Association 

 at the Plymouth Meeting. The remainder of the money has been raised 

 by private subscriptions. At the request of the Settle Committee Sir John 

 Lubbock has kindly consented to be Chairman of the Local Committee in 

 succession to the late Sir James Kay-Shuttleworth. 



The work has gone on nearly all the year from September 3rd, 

 1877, with few and very short intermissions. On the 22nd of June of 

 this year owing to the failure of our funds we found it necessary to dis- 

 continue for a time. Fortunately as it was haytime the workmen could 

 leave without detriment to themselves. Later on, as the result of an 

 appeal made, a little money came in and we were able to take the men 

 back again near the end of July. 



The Committee have to make this year an important announcement, 

 the correction of a considerable bnt unavoidable error. It is contained 

 in the following communication from Professor Busk to the Secretary. 



