266 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XI. No. 278 



vided for as usual this year, it is legally impossible to assume that 

 it will in carrying on the work of the bureau. 



— Dr. Asa Gray left Harvard College in trust, to aid in the sup- 

 port of the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University, the copyrights 

 of all his books, upon the condition that proper provision be made 

 for the renewal and extension of these copyrights by new editions, 

 continuations, and supplements, such as may be needed in the study 

 of botany, and as may best enhance and prolong the pecuniary 

 value of the bequest. 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 



*»* Correspondents are requested to be as brie/ as possible. The writer's name is 

 in all cases required as proof of ^^ood faith. 



Twenty copies of the nitmber containing his communication will be furnished 

 ,free to any correspondent on request. 



Tlt.e editor zuiit be g'lad to publisic any queries consonant with the character of 

 .tlie journal. 



Fayette County Meteorite. 



In a notice published in this journal Feb. 3, we gave the name 

 of ' La Grange ' to this meteorite, overlooking the fact that this 

 name was already applied to the Oldham County (Kentucky) iron. 

 In order to avoid confusion, we would suggest ihat this name be 

 dropped, and that instead, this meteorite be designated by the 

 name of the county in which it was found (Fayette County, Tex.) ; 

 and under this title will shortly appear {American Jmtr7ial of Sci- 



subsequent to the veins, and doubtless at the time of the fall. A 

 dark clouding for the most part surrounds these fissures, the 

 darkest parts being farthest from the fissure, and terminated, in 

 some cases, by a dark line similar to the veins. As all of the fis- 

 sures are not surrounded by this dark shading, and as some of the 

 clouded spots contain no fissures, it argues that the coloration can- 

 not be the effect of decomposition induced by the cracks, particu- 

 larly as there is no apparent effect of decomposition extending in 

 from the surface of the stone. The clouding is perhaps older than 

 the cracks, and formed lines of weakness which the cracks followed. 

 Further sections may throw more light on this point. 



The general structural appearance of the polished section is that 

 of a fine, compact conglomerate of greenish-gray color. When 

 held so as to reflect the light properly, the grains of iron might, as 

 to number and distribution, be likened to the stars in the Milky 

 Way. Only a few grains attain the size of an eighth of an inch, 

 although two or three grains, composed of iron and troilite, are a 

 full quarter-inch in diameter. Nearly all of the larger grains con- 

 tain troilite, so that our efforts to develop the Widmanstadtian 

 figures were only partially successful. 



In making a mould of the stone before cutting it, the surface 

 was thoroughly oiled, which removed a good deal of the iron-rust, 

 showing much more of the original black crust remaining than 

 could be seen at first. Ward & Howell. 



Rochester, N.Y., May 24. 



lence for June) papers by Mr. J. E. Whitfield of the United States Geo- 

 logical Survey, and Mr. G. P. Merrill of the United States National 

 Museum ; the former having worked it up very thoroughly from 

 .the chemical side, and the latter microscopically. 



They find it to " consist essentially of enstatite and olivine, with 

 s. good deal of nickel, iron, and some pyrrhotite." The iron con- 

 tains over fifteen per cent of nickel, and about two and a half per 

 ■cent of cobalt. 



Since the preparation of these papers, we have cut three slices, 

 an inch and a quarter thick, from the centre of the stone, which 

 enables us to add some interesting facts. The black veins that 

 were observed at several points on the surface are found to extend 

 entirely through the mass, and to be arranged mainly in two sets, 

 in each of which the veins are approximately parallel, the two sets 

 crossing each other at an angle of about 45°. This systematic 

 arrangement of the veins, which may be only accidental, is shown 

 in the accompanying cut, which represents a face of one of the 

 ■slices. 



As the planes of the veins are cut nearly at right angles by the 

 sections, they show on each of them, in approximately the same 

 positions. This is particularly the case with the narrow vein 

 shown at the base of the section. Although only a mere line, it is 

 uniform throughout, and is seen in exactly the same position on all 

 of the sections: therefore we have already revealed the plane of 

 this vein, 15 by 4 inches, with no indications of ' petering out.' 



The irregular thick vein also maintains a nearly uniform appear- 

 ance throughout the four inches of thickness. 



The sections also reveal a number of fissures or cracks formed 



An Unusual Auroral Bow. 



For several years past the ' northern lights ' at Buffalo have 

 been a rare meteor. Last evening an unusually interesting display 

 was witnessed. As twilight faded, a luminous bank appeared in 

 the north, which increased in brightness and altitude until nearlv 

 midnight. This was accompanied by the usual phenomena of a 

 bright aurora ; i.e., a yellowish-green color, long streamers ema- 

 nating from a bright, irregular arch resting on dark clouds, and 

 the eastward billowy motion of the streamers of light. The most 

 interesting part, however, was an arch which rested its extremities 

 on the eastern and western horizons, and passed at first a few de- 

 grees south of the zenith, but which drifted several degrees farther 

 south before final disappearance. This arch formed about 9 

 o'clock, remained sharply defined until 9.45, and at to.15 was still 

 faintly visible. Its width appeared to be about that of the rainbow, 

 and it was at first as symmetrical. Subsequently it became some- 

 what bent, and of irregular width. The bends, convex southward, 

 slowly passed along the bow westward. As it faded out, the ex- 

 tremities were displaced by streamers of light. Those in the east 

 were very distinct, and four or more at a time appeared in this col- 

 onnade. 



A phenomenon not before witnessed by me was a steady and 

 rapid drifting or flowing of the luminous, cloud-like matter of the 

 arch from the east towards the west. This could be plainly seen 

 by the unaided eye for about forty degrees of the upper part of the 

 band, and any particular cloud would traverse this space in two 

 minutes. D. S. Kellicott. 



Buffalo, N.Y., May 21. 



