26 
STONES FALLING FROM THE AIR. 
If the exfraor- The various descriptions of residues or precipitates which we 
dinary show- _ ‘ , 
crs be atmo.s- nave been speaking of, seem to afford additional proofs of the 
atmospheric origin of aerolites. In fact, it is impossible and 
almost absurd to attribute all these showers and globes of fire 
to the irruptions of volcanos in the moon, or to portions of 
planetary matter. If, therefore, we are obliged to admit of 
their atmospheric origin, it is scarcely possible to avoid doing 
the same with regard to aerolites, .since these meteors, whatever 
may be their name, pass so insensibly from one to the other, 
and have so much resemblance, that the cause attributed to the 
'former of these phenomena cannot be rejected for the latter. 
l>if!icii!fip.s a» As to the difficulties which we have here concisely detailed, 
to tile theory, jQj-,g ggg known, and if the atmospheric origin 
of aerolites has not been admitted as the most probable, it is 
because some very specious objections have appeared and suffi- 
, ciently well founded to oppose this theory. We must confess 
the formation and fall of aerolites is a phenomena so singular, 
and so diflerent from all those of svhich we are able to trace 
the progress and effect, that it is much easier to attack a 
theory which shall endeavour to account for them, than !• 
• 
defend that which appears to have the greatest probability, 
Aufiinirnts re- The strongest objection advanced against the atmospheric 
wcMit^arn'r origin of aeroliles, is founded on their compactness and weight, 
mass of aero- which seem plainly to shew how difficult it is to conceive th« 
lite.s, and their , . r ■ i- r i • , • ■ ■ i 
havin" been formation or bodies, or such a size and weight, in the atmos- 
tormedby con- pj^gPg. How, it may be said, is it possible that particles, so 
dcnsatioii. * 
much heavier than the air, can rise to those elevated regions 
where the meteorolites appear, and that these metallic particles 
; should remain suspended, in the state of vapor, in the atmos- 
phere, till they assume the form of globes, or at last unite 
into a mass of a certain volume. It may, nevertheless, be re- 
marked, in this instance, that the particles which compose the 
globes of fire, and which no philosopher has ever pretended 
come from the moon, must likewise have been in the shape 
of vapour previous to their being afterwards condensed into 
masses of gelatine, which are sometimes of a very considerable 
size. It is necessary to mention, as a proof, the gelatinous 
phene, the 
aerolites are 
probably so 
too. 
mass 
