209 
on certain stony and metalline Substances , &c. 
much to explain the above circumstance, inasmuch as many of 
the nodules of the transparent substance belonging to it, are in 
a state of real decomposition. In that state, they are changed 
into a white opaque substance, which, upon being lightly pressed 
or squeezed between the fingers, crumbles into a gritty dry 
powder. This decomposition may be observed to have taken 
place in various degrees : in many of the nodules, the sub- 
stance is merely become friable, without being much altered in 
its appearance ; whereas, some of those which are in a state of 
complete decomposition, are of an ochreous reddish yellow 
colour; it is, however, easy to distinguish that this colour does 
not belong to them, but is owing only to the oxidizement of 
the adjacent particles of iron. 
From the above observations, it will not be difficult to conceive 
the possibility of the total, or nearly total, destruction of the 
transparent substance ; and also, the appearance the pieces of 
iron must naturally present, when deprived of it. I cannot help 
observing likewise, that there appears to exist a very interesting 
analogy, between these transparent nodules and the globules I 
described as making part of the stones said to have fallen on 
the earth. This analogy, though not a very strong one, may 
lead us to suppose that the two substances are similar in their 
nature, but that the globules are less pure, and contain a 
greater quantity of iron. 
The native iron from Bohemia is a compact mass, similar 
to the compact part of the large specimen of iron from Siberia, 
which has just been described : like that, also, it contains a 
number of globular bodies or nodules; but they are not in 
such great proportion as in the Siberian iron. They are besides 
perfectly opaque, and very much resemble the most compact of 
mdcccii , E e 
