On a Mass of Meteoric Iron. 



411 



still these are only minor influences, the great magnetic force 

 of the earth being situated exclusively in itself. Now, in my 

 ignorance mayhap of the question, it does not seem to me to 

 be a thing past belief, that when the earth in its orbit comes 

 into the neighbourhood of the region in which these aerolites 

 are now believed to exist ; and, when their occasional proxi- 

 mity is close enough to bring the attractive powers of the 

 earth — the greater mass, to overbear that of the smaller — the 

 aerolite ; besides, the mere attractive force of gravity dragging 

 it down to the earth, that mysterious agency, the earth's mag- 

 netic attraction, should also come into operation ; and, that 

 a greater influence should of course be exerted over those 

 bodies which are purely metallic, the component parts of which 

 being also magnetic, are all strongly acted on by this mag- 

 netic influence ; so that, as the daily revolution of our world 

 takes place, the metallic meteoric falls would especially occur, 

 as near as possible, to the poles of the greatest magnetic force ; 

 or at least as near as would be compatible with the power of 

 the other forces which might assist in attracting them to the 

 surface of the earth. The possible, shall I say probable, result 

 being, that metallic meteorites, other things being equal, would 

 be found clustering in greatest numbers near the points of the 

 earth's greatest magnetic force, at the time of their fall ; and, 

 the stony meteorites, attracted magnetically in a less degree, 

 would, from the more general causes of their attraction, be 

 spread more abroad over the general surface of the globe. 



Of course the poles or points where the magnetic force is in 

 a maximum state, in the southern hemisphere, would also 

 have their share of these metallic masses ; but with these 

 regions we are comparatively unacquainted, and must not 

 forget the greater presence of water — the sea — in this part of 

 the world, which hides at once any meteoric fall that might 

 take place on its surface. Metallic meteorites, however, are 

 not altogether unknown in Australia, two very large masses* 

 having recently been discovered within some twenty miles of 

 Melbourne. A friend of mine, just returned from Melbourne, 

 tells me he has seen portions of them, and they somewhat re- 

 semble the piece of iron I have exhibited. 



* Oneatleast^f these masses has been lately secured for the British Museum. 



