ee ee eh a cl 
of Gases from Meteorite Iron. 301 
not large. The recent experiments of M. Cailletet* show that 
ordinary iron, under certain conditions, as when electrolytically 
deposited, may absorb nearly two hundred and fifty times its 
volume of hydrogen. 
The descriptions of the spectra thus far given have reference 
None of them were very bright, and it was a matter of some 
difficulty to fix their positions with entire accuracy by measure- 
ment. ‘The observations were made with a spectroscope of six 
prisms, with a repeating prism, giving the dispersion of twelve 
In all e of the lines appeared to coincide with the chief 
coronal line 1474 K., but it is not so sharp as the latter appears 
in the solar spectrum. A narrow and rather faint band appears 
at this point also in the spectrum of the electric spark between 
platinum points in air. Of the oxygen lines, one falls some 
distance below 1474, having the position 1462 K., very nearly. 
This, though not brilliant, is the strongest line in that region 
gen spectrum as obtained from a vacuum-tube. It 
dence betw 
doubtful probability. 
These lines of oxygen and nitrogen in the spectra observ 
are somewhat me A in their character, doubtless owing to 
the presence of the hydrogen, for the same appearances can be 
reproduced substantially by employing a mixture of these gases. 
Several experiments were made with a tube containing at first 
only air. hen this was exhausted the bands arising from 
44. 
i Ecclisse totale di Sole, dell 22 Dicembre, 
Rapporti sulle Osse oni dell’ 
*L’ Institut, Nouv. Sér., Ann. 3, p. 
+ ull rvazi 
1870. pp. 62, 106. 
