ACCOUNTS. ESTIMATES, &C. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 2/ 



Consul General to the Republic of Chili. It was found in the Sierra de Chaco, and given 

 to Mr. Thompson by Professor Ign. Doraeyko, of Chili. Another portion of the same 

 Meteorite has been described by Professor Gustav Rose, of Berlin. A small piece of 

 Meteoric lion, found on the Desert of Atacama, and quite distinct from the previously 

 known Siderolites from that district, has been sent to the Museum by Lewis Joel, Esq., 

 Her Majesty's Vice Consul at Cobija. A specimen of another Iron Meteorite has been 

 contributed to the National Collection l)y the instrumentality of W. C. Booker, Esq., Her 

 Majesty's Consul at San Francisco, California. It was presented, through that gentleman, 

 by the Boaid of Supervisors of the city of Francisco, at the instance of Professor Whitney, 

 State assayer. The mas.'> from which it was separated was one of several that are known to 

 exist in tin; neighbourhood of Tuczon, in the territory of Arizona. 



Dr. Oldham, Dirtct.ir of the Ceological Survey of India, has presented a small fragment, 

 unique, as being the only specimen that has been preserved, of an Aerolite which fell at 

 Kusiali, ill Kumaon, India, on the 16lh of June 1860. Another Aerohte, also unique, has 

 been added to the Collection by Thomas Maclear, Esq., Astronomer Royal at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, to whom the Museum has been before indebted for specimens of the Bokke- 

 veldt Aerolite, 'i'he stone recently presented by Mr. Maclear fell at Kaee, in Oude, on the 

 29th January 1838. 



The following Minrals have also been presented: — Fine Crystals of Pyrrhotine, from 

 the Val d'Ossola, by E. Francfoit, Esq. 



Galena and Marcasite, in singular forms, from Mineral Point, Winconsin, by E. H. 

 Beechfr, Esq. Specimens of Chalcedonic Minerals from Uruguay, by W. G. Lettsom, Esq., 

 Her Majesty's Minister and Consul General to the Republic of Uruguay. 



Copper Ores, !iy L. Joel, Esq., Her Majesty's Vice Consul, Cobija; and some Cornish 

 Minerals, includinir good specimens of Wolframine, and a massive and highly phospho- 

 rescent variety of Fluor, by John Garby, Esq., of Redruth. 



Among the more important acquisitions by purchase may be recorded — 



An enormous block of fine translucent green Jade, from Irkutsk, Siberia, purchased of 

 M. Alibert, to whom the Museum is indebted for specimens of native Gold, Beryl, Graphite, 

 and other Siberian Minerals presented by him. 



Native Copper in fine Crystals, Cornwall. 



Crystals of native gold from Victoria and from Transylvania. 



Porpezite, from Brazil. 



Tellurium, from Hungary. 



Fahlore, from Kapiick. 



Zinkenite, from Wolfberg. 



Fluor Spar in magnificent crystals, finely modified on the angles from Menhenlot mine, 

 Cornwall; and also in large and fine crystals from Durham. 



Braunite and Romeine in very fine little crystals, from Piedmont. 



Apophyllite, f om Faroe Islands. 



Specimens of Matlockite and of Phosgenite, Derbyshire. 



Of the rare variety of Petalite, termed Castor, two specimens have been acquired, one- 

 being a very good crystal, almost unique. 



Tschewkinite, from the Ural (a portion of the original specimen). 



Bleinierite, Nertschinsk (ditto, ditto, analysed by Hermann). 



Caledonite, from Leadhills. 



Liroconite and Copper Mica, from Cornwall. 



Rhodicite on Rubellite, from Siberia. 



Autunnite, from France. 



Much scientific speculation has recently been devoted to the subject of Meteorites, and' 

 it has for some years past 'oeen deemed desirable to devote considerable efforts to the 

 collection of as complete a series of these singular extra-mundane bodies as possible. 



Towards this end Her Majesty's Secretaries of State for Foreign and for Colonial Affairs, 

 as well as for India, have been pleased to afford assistance, and the results that liave 

 already accrued from the co-operation of intelligent Englishmen in all parts of the world, 

 thus secured, have been very valuable. 



By presentations to the Trustees, by exchanocs for duplicate specimens obtained in the 

 cutting and polishing those before in the collection, and by direct purchase, the collection 

 of Meteorites now in the British Museum is by far tiie most perfect in the number rtF 

 localities, and ihe most valuable, from the size and weight of its specimens, that exists in 

 the world. The catalogue puhlished on August 1, contained 216 disiinct Meteorites, of 

 which 139 were seen to fall ; and the numbers have since increased to 220. 



Of the Aerolites (stony Meteorites) a large proportion has been examined, in section, by 

 the Microscope, and they are now being grouped in accordance with the results that this 

 means of investigating their structure has afforded. 



Nevil Story Mashelyne. 



246. D 2 BOTANICAI,- 



