404 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



A steel-plate, treated in exactly a similar manner as this 

 meteoric iron, was exhibited, and showed simply a regularly 

 depressed smooth portion where the acid had been applied. 



These etched patches, having been placed near the middle 

 of each surface of the two portions of the meteorite, perhaps 

 rather unfortunately, give to a careless observer the idea of 

 the mass having a core or central part of a different struc- 

 ture ; this appearance is of course due entirely to the action 

 of the acid. 



Printed Impression from Etched Surface. — I was anxious 

 to learn if it would be possible to get a cast or squeeze in wax, 

 taken from the etched surface, on each of the two portions 

 into which the mass was cut, that it might be electrotyped, and 

 the electrotype cast (which thus exactly corresponds to the 

 original surface of the iron) backed up with metal in the 

 usual way, so that impressions might be printed from it. 

 The cast taken from the larger patch of etching was so large, 

 and the raised markings so slightly defined in their character, 

 that, when it was used as a woodcut, the printer could not 

 prevent it getting blotted all over, when attempting to take 

 an impression from its surface. The smaller etched patch, 

 from its less size, and possibly slightly more defined mark- 

 ings, was found to answer better, and an impression of it is 

 accordingly exhibited (see next page), which gives a fac simile 

 of the etched surface and structure of the metal. 



The cast has been printed from, in the same manner as a 

 woodcut, and shows the projecting parts black, the light spaces 

 between being the more deeply etched parts of the surface, and 

 the smooth polished metal surrounding the whole, appearing 

 like a black border. The white spots which cross the picture 

 show traces of decay and the line of the fracture by which the 

 mass became separated into two portions ; for I was rather 

 startled to learn that the process of taking the wax squeeze from 

 the surface of the smaller portion of the meteorite with the ordi- 

 nary printer s press, had broken it in two. It was evident, how- 

 ever, from the fractured surface, which was simply a weathered 

 looking or oxidised continuation of the deep furrow which par- 



than any other meteoric iron known; only the minute markings of his speci- 

 men appeared to be more angular and sharp in character. 



