742 METEORIC STONES AND SHOOTING STARS. 



Prof. C. U. Shepard, in the American Journal of Science, for September, 

 1860, mentions an iron meteorite from near Forsyth, Taney county, Mo. 

 From Prof Shepard's description T suppose that it was chiefly composed of 

 iron and nickel, and had a specific gravity of 4.46. 



In Prof C. U. Shepard's catalogue of meteorites, published in the 

 American Journal of Science and Arts for May, 1861, we also find No. 57, 

 February 13, 1839, a meteorite from Little Piney, Pulaski county, Mo. 



Prof Daniel Kirkwood catalogues eight bolides between July, 1876, and 

 February, 1877 ; one of July 8, 1876, at 8:45 p. m., at an altitude of eighty- 

 six miles, passed across Northeast Indiana, bearing N. 78° W., exploding 

 at an elevation of thirty four miles above Lake Michigan. Its path was 

 inclined 21° to the horizon. 



Before closing, I would insert the following extract from the History of 

 Louisiana, by Le Page Du Pratz, Paris, 1758 ; London Translation, 1774. 

 A friend of mine kindly copied and sent me the account : 



"Towards the autumn of this j^ear (1722) I saw a phenomena which 

 etruck the superstitious with great terror. It was in effect so extraordi- 

 nary that I never- remember to have heard of anything that either resem- 

 bled or ever came up to it. I had just supped without doors in order to 

 enjoy the cool of the evening; my face was turned to the west, and I sat 

 belore my table to examine some planets which had already appeared. 



"I perceived a glimmering light which made me raise my eyes, and 

 immediately I saw at the elevation of about 45 degrees above the horizon a 

 light proceeding from the south of the breadth of three inches, which went 

 off to the north, always spreading itself as it moved, and made itself heard 

 by a whizzing light like that of the largest skyrocket. I judged by the eye 

 that this light could not be above our atmosphere, and the whizzing noise 

 that I heard confirmed me in that notion." 



" When it came to be about 45 degrees to the north above the horizon it 

 •topped short and ceased enlarging itself In that place it appeared to be 

 about twenty inches broad, so that in its course, which had been very rapid, 

 it formed the figure of a marine trumpet, and left in its passage very lively 

 sparks, shining brighter than those which fly from under a smith's hammer ; 

 but they were extinguished almost as fast as they wei'e emitted." 



" At the north elevation there issued out with a great noise from the 

 middle of the large end a ball quite round, and all on fire apparently, six 

 inches in diameter. It fell below the horizon to the north and emitted 

 about twenty minutes after a hollow but very loud noise for the space of a 

 minute, which appeared to come from a great distance. The light began to 

 be weakened to the south, after emitting the ball, and at length disappeared 

 before the noise was heard." 



