071 a Mass of Meteoric Iron. 
407 
the earth's orbit, being now generally considered as the view 
which meets and explains most easily the peculiarities of their 
structure and appearance. For expositions of some of the 
various theories on these subjects, I need only refer to the 
well-known memoirs of Professors 0. U. Shepard and J. L. 
Smith, M.D., of America,* and especially of Mr Robert Philips 
Greg,t of Manchester. M. Haidinger, director-general of the 
Geological Survey of Austria, has also published his views on 
the origin of aerolites, in a recent communication to the French 
Academy of Science. 
Catalogues of Meteors and Meteorolites. — -Catalogues de- 
tailing the particulars of all known meteors, aerolites, (fee, 
have been from time to time published. I may refer to 
those given in the Reports of the British Association, and to 
the very complete list by Mr R,. P. Greg in the Report of the 
year 1860. 
Aerolites may be supposed to have fallen on our earth from 
the earliest periods of its history. I am not aware, however, 
of any instances that have been noticed connecting their ex- 
istence with the earlier or geologic history of our globe. In 
the sacred Scriptures, such expressions as the great stones, 
and the hailstones, that were cast down from heaven, on the 
enemies of Israel, on the memorable occasion when an appa- 
rent interruption of the earth's motion took place (Joshua x. 
11) ; and, again, the use of such terms, as coals of fire, in 
addition to the lightning, by the Psalmist, when speaking of 
the wonders of the Almighty (Ps. xviii. 12, 13), suggest, at 
least, the possibility of an allusion to these mysterious bodies 
at that early period. 
Meteoric Stones worshipped. — In the book of Acts (xix. 
35) we have reference made to the image of the Diana of 
Ephesus, which fell down from Jupiter, undoubtedly an aero- 
lite. The fall of one of these bodies among an ignorant and 
superstitious people, with its attendant phenomena of fire and 
explosion, would naturally be considered as a message from 
the gods, and especially from the presiding deity of the dis- 
trict. Various instances of falls of this kind are noticed by 
ancient authors, whose statements we have no reason alto- 
* American Journal of Science. f Essay on Meteorites. 
VOL. II. 3 Cr 
