298 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



XXVII.— CATALOGUE OF THE EXAMPLES OF METEOEIO 

 FALLS IN THE MUSEUMS OF DUBLIN, by Prof. Y. 



BALL, M.A., F.R.S. 



[Read May 16th, 1882.] 



The present paper is the first of a series which I hope to pub- 

 lish from time to time, giving an account of various collections 

 which are preserved in the Geological Museum of Trinity College. 

 Where possible, and when the necessary permission is obtained, 

 I intend to include information regarding collections in other 

 Museums besides that which is under my own charge. The 

 publication of such lists has for its object the conveyance to 

 those likely to be interested, information regarding the existence 

 in our Museums of authentic examples of the specimens indicated, 

 and I am not without hope that it may lead to our series being 

 made more perfect by donations and exchanges. Possessors of 

 single examples and small collections, may be induced to con- 

 tribute them to Museums if they receive the assurance that they 

 will be well cared for. 



Far removed in size and importance as the collection here 

 described is from those which are preserved in the British 

 Museum, in the Imperial Museum, Vienna, and in the Indian 

 Museum, Calcutta, it serves sufficiently well to illustrate the 

 leading forms and lithological characters possessed by these in- 

 teresting objects — objects which are now, perhaps, more than at 

 any previous time, exciting interest and attention, owing to the 

 fact having been recognised that they afford, as it were, hand 

 specimens of what our earth was when it first consolidated, and 

 before organic life made its appearance. 



Ireland has contributed only four examples ; these all belong to 

 the class of aerolites, and the circumstances attending their falls, 

 respectively, are on record. A fifth fall was reported to have 

 taken place at Cloneen, near Parsonstown, King's county, in 

 August, 1828. A sample preserved in the National Museum is 

 accompanied by a statement that " the fall caused the death of 

 two men, injury to a woman, and the ignition of a stack of oats." 

 ISo one having any knowledge of the appearance presented by 

 meteorites could possibly regard this sample as being other than 

 spurious. It is in fact, in all probability, a fragment of slag from 

 some smelting furnace. The injury described was probably 

 caused by a flash of lightning. 



