138 Scientific Intelligence. 
outside and among the crystals, in such a manner as to show that it is 
the unerystalline residue of the material in which they were formed 
(Mezé-Madaras, Parnallee). It is of a claret or brownish color, and pos- 
Some isolated portions of meteorites have also a structure very similar to 
that of stony lavas, where the shape and mutual relations of the crystals 
to each other prove that they were formed. in situ, on solidification, 
Possibly some entire meteorites should be considered to possess this pe- 
culiarity (Stannern, New Concord), but the evidence is by no means 
conclusive, and what crystallization has taken place im situ may have 
been a secondary result; whilst in others the constituent particles have 
mach, indeed, that I have specimens which, at first sight, might readily 
be mistaken for sections of meteorites. It would therefore appear that 
after the material of the meteorites was melted, a considerable portion 
was broken up into sinall fragments, subsequently collected together, and 
more or Jess consolidated by mechanical and chemical actions, amoung 
occurred in some cases when the melted matter had hecome crystalline, 
ture of meteoric iron as compared wi uced by various artificial 
processes, showing that under certain conditions the latter may be obtain- 
ed so as to resemble very closely some varieties of meteoric origin (New- 
mind, not only in forming a conclusion as to the origin of meteorites, but 
also in attempting to explain volcanic action in general. ‘The discussio® 
of such questions, however, should, I think, be deferred until a more — a 
complete account can be given of all the data on which these conclusions 
are founded. ioe 
