DR. W. FLIGHT, GREENLAND METEORITES. 4G1 



exposed to a high temperature. Tschermak, however, points out 

 that this phenomenon has only been observed in experiments con- 

 ducted at ordinary pressure, and it must not be forgotten, he 

 maintains, tliat these masses, though surrounded by a heated 

 medium, were at the same time subjected to the superincumbent 

 pressure of a vast layer of fluid basalt. They may, moreover, 

 have originally had a different composition, and the oxygen which 

 plays so essential a part in the gaseous evolution, may have been 

 taken up subsequently during exposure to the atmosphere. 



Daubree draws attention to a reaction, mentioned by Stammer, 

 and thoroughly investigated by E. L. Gruner {Comjjt. Rend. 

 xxiii. 28 ; xxiv. 226), that, in the presence of iron-oxide, or even 

 of iron under certain circumstances, carbonic oxide breaks up, 

 depositing carbon, partly in combination with iron, partly in in- 

 timate mixture with iron-oxide ; and that this reaction, which 

 has been found to occur at 400°, does not take place at very 

 high temperatures. 



Nordenskj old's paper is illustrated with a pkn of the shore at 

 Ovifak, where the irons were found, and with a sketch made on 

 the spot by Nordstrom of the three largest masses {ahove^ p. 440), 

 showing them partly immersed ; and in a plate are representations 

 of seven of the blocks — one showing very distinctly the manner in 

 which the metal is rent during oxidation. Nauckhoff has appended 

 to his paper in the Mittheilungen a drawing of the gangue, indi- 

 cating the position of the smaller pieces of iron and tlie breccia. 

 Four excellent photographs of the larger masses have been pub- 

 lished by the Hofphotograph Jaeger, in Stockholm. 



One of the largest blocks, weighing 10,000 lbs., was offered for 

 sale in New York for 12,500 dollars in gold, and smaller speci- 

 mens at eight dollars per lb. 



As is well known, implements of meteoric iron have from time 

 to time been found in the possession of the Esquimaux {above, 

 p. 324, &c.). Some recent specimens, inserted in bone handles, 

 from Esquimaux kitchen middens, were described by Steenstrup 

 at the Congres international d' Anthropologie et d' Archeologie 

 prehistoriques a Bruxelles (Session de 1872). For figures of 

 these implements see also Mateiiaux pour Vhistoire jyrimitive et 

 naturelle de V Homme, 9 Annee, 2® Serie, Tome IV. 2® Livraison, 

 1873, p. 65, pi. 7. 



Cryoconite found 1870, July 19th-25th, on inland ice, ea&:t of 

 Auleitsivik Fjord, Disko Bay, Greenland. — Meteoric metallic 

 particles found in snow, which fell (1) 1871, December, Stock- 

 liolm ; (2) 1872, March 13th, Evoia, Finnland ; (3) 1872, 

 August 8th, Lat. 80° N., Long. 13° E. ; (4) 1872, September 

 2nd, Lat. 80° N., Long. 15° E.* 



Early in December 1871, there was a heavier fall of snow in 

 the neighbourhood of Stockholm than any that had occurred there 

 within the memory of living persons ; and it presented to Norden- 



* A. E. Nordenskjold. Redogorelse for en Expedition till Grouland Ar 

 187C, p. 28. See also Geol. Mag. ix. 356, {above, p. 395); Compt. liend., 

 Ixxvii. 4G3; Jour. Prakt. Chem.,ix, 356; Pogg. Ann., cli, 154. 



