164 Falling Stars and Meteorites. 



land and very carefully recorded, we may take the following : — 

 "On the 17th December, 1852, at about five o'clock in the 

 morning, during a severe gale, a very remarkable cloud, that 

 had been noticed for five minutes advancing in the wind's eye, 

 and rapidly increasing in size, was noticed to give off a number 

 of flashes, accompanied by a singular hissing noise, like that of 

 a shot, clearly distinguishable from the howling of the wind. In 

 the centre of the cloud a dull red obscure nucleus, or fire-ball, 

 was seen, about half the size of the moon, having a tail five or 

 six times that length, from which flashes were sent forth with 

 great brilliancy, the sounds becoming more detonating as the 

 meteor descended through the air. At three minutes past five 

 the nucleus suddenly exploded, with a report similar to a very 

 heavy clap of thunder, giving out an intensely brilliant light, 

 which rendered the minutest objects distinctly visible, although 

 it rained at the time violently and the sky was obscured. The 

 body of the meteor seemed to fall into the water about half a 

 mile from the land, and was indicated by a great volume of 

 spray which rose foaming in the distance.* 



The meteoric stones that exist in a state capable of clear 

 identification, without being directly connected with any re- 

 corded meteors, are very numerous, and are found in all parts 

 of the world. As might be expected, however, they are rarely 

 noticed in countries where the land is cultivated and stones kept 

 out of the way. The countryman ploughing his land would 

 certainly not remark anything of the kind, and the scientific 

 man would not go into a ploughed field to make mineralogical 

 discoveries. 



Very large and fine collections of meteorites exist, however, 

 in some of the public museums of Europe. The British Museum 

 is especially rich, and may be examined with great advantage 

 by the student. Space will not allow of any account of these 

 specimens, but perhaps a few notes made last year by myself on 

 the Vienna collection, which is certainly the next largest, and is 

 especially rich in earthy varieties, will interest the reader. It 

 should be explained beforehand that there are two kinds of 

 meteoric stones — thoso that are almost entirely metallic, and 

 those which consist very largely of sandstone and other earthy 

 minerals. Tho former are, perhaps, the most common, but tho 

 latter are in some respects tho most instructive. 



The Vienna collection of meteorites is remarkable for tho 

 variety of tin; Localities that have yielded specimens to enrich it. 

 The collection includes portions of stones that have fallen in 

 one hundred and seventy-five different places, and among them 

 are many of extri me interest. 



* J', of the Z2 'y of London, for January 27, 1853, vol. vi., 



p. i:76. 



