vi Proceedings. [November jrd y igi 4. 



Mr. C. L. Barnes, M.A., drew attention to volumes 2-10 of 

 " The Entomologist" recently purchased by the Society, thus 

 completing the set from volume 2. 



Mr. W. C. Jenkins, F.R.A.S., Curator of the Godlee 

 Observatory, exhibited the Aerolite which fell at Upholland, 

 near Wigan, on October 13th. 



Mr. Jenkins stated that the aerolite aroused great interest at 

 the time of its fall owing to the reports claiming it to be of 

 terrestrial origin. It can be assumed that this body had been 

 moving freely in space until, on approaching the earth, the 

 gravitational attraction of the larger mass gathered it in, the 

 result being a very rapid movement through the earth's atmo- 

 sphere with the consequent heating of the surface of the mass 

 in such a way as to round off all corners. An examination of 

 the fracture shows that this heating has not penetrated to any 

 great depth, only to an average of about 1 mm. in thickness. 



Soon after its approach a violent explosion was heard 

 throughout Lancashire, Cheshire, and the surrounding counties. 

 The result of the explosion is evident on examination of the 

 parts which were fractured before its entry into the earth. 

 " Falls " have been recorded at Davenham, near Northwich, and 

 at Stretford, though at present the fragments have not been found. 



From observations of the visible track of the meteor, Mr. 

 Denning, of Bristol, estimated the height of the object when it 

 was over Stoke -upon-Trent to be about 29 miles and that it 

 would reach the earth some 49 miles away at a point 20 miles 

 west of Manchester. This proved to be about the position in 

 which the mass was found. It is the largest " find " in England 

 for 120 years. A stone of 3J lbs. fell at Middlesbrough in 

 1 88 1, and a fall of iron, weighing 7 J lbs., occurred in Shrop- 

 shire in 1876. The weight of the two pieces exhibited was 

 28 lbs. 13 ozs., and there is evidence that some 2 lbs. or so is 

 missing. 



The mass does not show any marked magnetic effect, though 

 individual grains selected are strongly magnetic. The con- 

 stituents are mainly basic silicates, with iron and nickel. 



