Fusion- structures in Meteorites. 305 



The method of demonstration resorted to for this purpose is 

 of a two-fold character. * The first maybe stjded the "nega- 

 tive," inasmuch as it is intended thereby to show that these 

 structures are not mineral formations ; the second is to be con- 

 sidered as "positive." 



As far as the latter line of argument is concerned, the only 

 evidence offered is a considerable number of pbotographs of the 

 objects in question, accompanied by a history of what the au- 

 thor considers them, and an enumeration of the various organic 

 forms (corals, crinoids, sponges) which he recognizes therein. 



These photographs are for the most part well executed, and 

 bear testimony to considerable labor that must have been ex- 

 pended in their production. However, as to their value as 

 evidence, individual opinion must be formed by personal in- 

 spection ; for my part, the mere resemblance of outline (which 

 some certainly possess) to the contours of organic structures, 

 does not suffice to convince me of their being such structures — 

 the characteristic details of these, even, being wanting. 



Of greater interest are the arguments advanced to show that 

 these Structures cannot be mineral forms, and some of these 

 j)oints will now be briefly considered. 



"Minerals," it is urged, f "are either crystallized or not crys- 

 tallized. In the first condition they have definite structure 

 formed in obedience to a law, and hence recurring; they come 

 of jDlanes which in section are projected as straight lines. 

 These forms (lines and angles) are repeated, varying only in size 

 and not in condition ( Verhdltniss.'' Such forms, it is claimed, 

 are not to be found among these structures, declared to be 

 organic. "Among them," it is said, "is no form with plane 

 or angle; all are spheres {Kngeln), ellipses with deviations from 

 the mathematical form, but deviations which are constant. 

 Hence, entirely apart from the coinciding of structure, a con- 

 stancy of outline is shown, but of other forms than the crystal- 

 line forms of olivine or enstatite would have to show." 



The claim that no planes or angles are to be found in these 

 structures, is decidedly incorrect, and the very photograjihs 



* Dr. 0. HahD : Die Meteorite (Chondrite) und Ibre Organismen. 

 t Dr. 0. Ilahn, op. cU., p. 21. 



