On Meteorites. 103 
evident that their substance has been broken into small pieces, which 
again have become cemented together—a structure seen with un- 
common distinctness in the Tysnæs meteorite, as represented in the 
accompanying cut (Fig. 2). Not all 
the fragments are so large as to be 
seen by the unaided eye; for in ex- 
amining the stone by the microscope 
some very small ones are also found, 
mostly of a round or globular form. 
This breaking up and putting 
together again seems in the case of 
the Tysnæs meteorite to have oc- 
curred at least twice. 
The large fragments seen in Fig. 
2 are composed of smaller ones, it 
being a case similar to a conglomerate 
in which the individual roll-stones 
. a FıG. 2. Braccious structure of the 
consist of conglomerate. Fig Tysnæs meteorite, Drawn by the 
author. 
shows a portion of the Tysnæs 
meteorite viewed in the microscope; while Fig. 4 represents 
an isolated globule of olivine, greatly magnified. It contains 
a brownish and glassy substance, in form reminding one of the cells 
of plants. Similar formations, not rare in meteorites, have furnished 
a fanciful scientist an excuse for obstinately asserting that they 
actually are the remains of plants. It is to be regretted that such 
18 not the case ; for it would undoubtedly have been interesting if 
in this way we had been able to lay hand on specimens of organic 
life from other globes. : 
: The second group of meteorites consist of native iron—as men 
tioned above—with an occasional sprinkling of grains of stony 
minerals, Native iron occurs but rarely on this globe, as iron 
readily enters into combination with oxygen—in other words, it 
oxidizes, or rusts. In fact, it isso rare in nature, except in the 
meteorites, that any lump of iron produced by man was formerly 
believed to have fallen down from heaven. This was also Norden- 
skiéld’s impression when, some years ago, he found quite a quantity 
of native iron in Greenland. The find was at that time much talked - 
of; but Steenstrup afterwards pointed out that the supposed meteor- 
ites were only big lumps of iron which had weathered out of the 
rock on which they were found. This rock abounded to a remark- 
able degree in iron. 
