542 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIX. No. 1275 



west component rate of the falling meteorite 

 can not at present be stated. It seems now 

 to be pretty well establisbed that the meteor 

 never crossed to the west side of the Cincin- 

 nati Southern Railroad. 



For the forthcoming Bulletin of the Ken- 

 tucky Geological Survey the writer has de- 

 lineated upon a map of a portion of south- 

 eastern Kentucky the area in which all the 

 fragments of the meteorite will probably be 

 foimd. At present writing seven pieces rang- 

 ing in weight from 13 oz. to 5i lbs. have been 

 found that by their covering of glaze indicate 

 that the split off from the main mass at a con- 

 siderable distance from the ground. Fifty-two 

 pieces weighing from less than an ounce up to 

 four pounds have been found that are parts of 

 a mass weighing originally about 31 pounds. 

 This mass was broken into these numerous 

 fragments as the result of falling on top of 

 the conglomerate cliff which forms the walls 

 of the gorge of the Cumberland River below 

 the Falls. 



The larger fragments, which split off from 

 the main mass at a considerable height, be- 

 sides the covering of glaze, have the character- 

 istic pittings of meteorites. They are light 

 gray in color, and exhibit a breeciated struc- 

 ture. A chemical examination of the material 

 of which they are composed, made by Dr. Al- 

 fred Peter, of the Kentucky Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station, shows it to be mainly the 

 mineral enstatite (silicate of magnesium). 

 Through this is disseminated microscopic par- 

 ticles of nickel-iron and iron combined with 

 sulphur in an amount not exceeding two 

 tenths of one per cent. Small amounts of 

 sodium and calcium are also present. The 

 meteorite would therefore be classed as a 

 chondritic aerolite. It has the same specific 

 gravity as enstatite, 3.18. 



Arthur M. Miller 



Department op Geology, 

 Univeesity op Kentucky, 

 May 14, 1919 



ON THE AURORAL DISPLAY OF MAY 2, 1919 



The notes on this display, in Science, May 

 23, 1919, lead me to offer the following sum- 



mary of my observations on it between 8:38 

 and 10:30 p.m. (75th meridian time), May 2. 



There were streamers of increasing promi- 

 nence from the time I first observed the dis- 

 play at 8 :38, until the culmination at 8 :50 to 

 8 :55, when the sky from the north-northwest to 

 north by west was covered from about 10 de- 

 grees to a height of 45 or 50 degrees with a 

 deep crimson light. The auroral arch, which 

 was unusually narrow and sharply defined be- 

 low, and at times subdivided in two or three 

 parts, continued with varying brightness and 

 altitude (base about 8 to 15 degrees) till 10:30, 

 at least. There was some moderate streamer 

 display from time to time. The effect of the 

 auroral display was heightened by the sweep 

 of searchlight beams from the south, and by 

 the presence of the relatively new moon in 

 conjunction with Venus. 



A very similar display was observed here 

 February 27, 1919, from 8 :50 tiU after 11 p.m., 

 with crimson coloration in the north to an 

 altitude of about 40° at 10:45 to 10:50. 



Ch^vrles F. Brooks 



Chevy Chase, 

 Washington, D. C. 



meeting of plant pathologists on long 

 island to discuss potato diseases 



The summer potato inspection tour and con- 

 ference arranged by the Advisory Board, 

 American Plant Pathologists, will be held 

 on Long Island from June 24 to 27, 1919 for 

 the special purpose of studying potato mo- 

 saic and leaf roll. The members of the party 

 will meet at the Griffen House, Riverhead, 

 Long Island, Tuesday evening, for dinner, 

 after which there vsdll be a meeting at the 

 Court House. 



The next day will be spent in a tour of in- 

 spection of test plots of potatoes on the north 

 side from Riverhead to Orient Point. There 

 will be an informal conference at Riverhead 

 during the evening. On June 26, a trip will 

 be made to the south side, the day being spent 

 in the inspection of an experimental test plot 

 at Wainseott, and in conferences at South- 

 ampton. The party will then take an evening 

 train to Garden City, Nassau County. The 

 following day, June 27, will be spent in the 



