Notice of a 3! ass of Meteoric Iron. 
397 
measure each about 2J inches in length ; and one of these 
sides (showing a dimpled outline), from the oblique position 
of this lozenge-shaped extremity to the general mass of the 
meteorite, forms its small terminal edge, or pointed extremity. 
The whole shape of this piece of meteoric iron suggests the 
idea, that when its fall took place, the extremity, now the 
smaller and more pointed, first reached the earth, which, from 
its resistance, crushed the glowing and softened mass into 
these peculiarly flattened surfaces of its pyramidal extremity, 
bending even the oblique point itself a little upwards and 
backwards ; while the larger extremity, though slightly flat- 
tened below, where it struck the ground, still shows in the 
projecting masses of its upper surface, the part least afiected 
by the shock of its terrible descent through our atmosphere, 
to bury itself in terra firma. 
Size. — The mass of iron measures lOf inches in its greatest 
length, and 7 inches across the widest part, about the middle 
of its length ; the larger blunt-edged extremity measuring 6 
inches across. Its circumference round the larger extremity 
is 1 foot 3 inches ; round the large lobular projection (about 
the middle of the mass) its widest part, 1 foot 8J inches ; 
while within IJ inches of the point, it measures only 9J inches 
in circumference. 
Weight. — It weighed 32 lbs. II ounces IJ drachms avoir- 
dupois, equal to 39-60 lbs. troy. 
Specific Gravity. — The specific gravity of the entire mass, 
Dr Murray Thomson informs me, is 6-517. 
Colour. — The external surface of this meteoric iron is of a 
dark reddish brown, approaching in some parts to black ; and 
the lobulated parts show here and there, especially in the 
furrows which divide them, spots of a brighter red colour, 
due apparently to the partial oxidation of its surface. 
Fhotog rajahs. — The general appearance of the meteorite 
is well shown in the photographs exhibited. These have 
been beautifully taken by Mr Alexander M'Coll. The mass 
of metal was laid on the 8vo vol. of the Royal Physical 
Society's Proceedings, which thus gives a correct idea of its 
relative size and proportions ; and, when the second picture 
wa-s taken, the volume was turned quite round, without toucli- 
