400 Scientific Intelligence. 



the last of March. Also the single known Lodranite which 

 closely resembles an iron meteorite accords in its time of fall 

 with the Howardites and related types of the first of October. 



If any ground has thus been established for believing that 

 meteorites of the same approximate date of fall have a common 

 origin, then the constitution indicated for some of the swarms at 

 least is that of a combination of a rock rich in anorthite with 

 one rich in iron. It is suggested that these types have arisen by 

 differentiation of a common magma, such as has occurred, in some 

 ultra-basic terrestrial magmas. The regularly varying composi- 

 tion of moldavite is referred to as an illustration of such dif- 

 ferentiation. 



Lines connecting dates of falls through succeeding years are 

 found for the most part to incline to the left, showing that the 

 swarms are met continually earlier by the earth. This is shown 

 to be what might be expected through the deformation of a 

 swarm by the earth's attraction. Little or no connection of 

 meteorite swarms with known star showers is observed. The 

 meteorite falls reach their maximum in number the middle of 

 June and their minimum the last of October. 



On the whole the probability of the existence of meteorite 

 swarms which are met by the earth at recurrent dates in its 

 yearly revolution is shown to be considerable and the careful 

 record of the date of fall of as many meteorites as possible is 

 urged for purposes of further investigation. o. c. f. 



2. The American Philosophical Society. — The American 

 Philosophical Society of Philadelphia announces, in a circular 

 dated October 16, that it will in future, in addition to its usual 

 semi-monthly meetings, hold at least one general meeting in each 

 year. For 1902 it has been decided that this general meeting 

 shall be held in Easter week. Members desiring to present 

 papers, either for themselves or others, are requested to send to 

 the secretaries at as early a date as practicable and not later 

 than February 15th, 1902, the titles of the papers, accompanied 

 by a brief abstract, so that they may be duly announced on the 

 program which will be issued immediately thereafter and which 

 will give in detail the arrangements for the meeting. The pub- 

 lication committee, under the rules of the Society, will arrange 

 for the immediate publication of the papers presented. A general 

 committee of twenty-six gentleman from different parts of the 

 country has the whole matter in charge. Professor George F. 

 Barker is the Chairman and Mr. I. Minis Hays, Secretary. 



The circular, in remarking upon the national character of this 

 venerable Society — founded in 1743 — expresses the expectation 

 that this general meeting "from the information to be derived 

 from the papers presented and their discussion by those most 

 competent to add to our knowledge, will attract the members of 

 the Society from all parts of the country to their mutual advan- 

 tage as well as to that of this, the first and oldest scientific society 

 in America, and one of the oldest in the world." 



