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. 
