12 FreLp CoLuMBIAN MusrEuM—GEOoLOGy, VOL. 1. 
It is therefore possible when any body possessing these characters is 
found upon the earth, to assert with comparative certainty that it 
was of meteoric origin though its fall to the earth has not been ob- 
served. This is called a meteoric ‘‘ find” in distinction from a meteo- 
ric ‘‘fall’” and a large number of the meteorites now in collections 
have been obtained in this way. 
This is especially true of the meteorites made up chiefly of iron, 
since their metallic character preserves them from decay and their 
weight and difference from ordinary stones make them noticeable to 
the ordinary observer. On account of the nickel-white color of their 
interior also, they are often taken by their discoverers for masses of 
silver and have been preserved for this reason. Of more than one 
hundred localities of these now represented in collections only nine 
metallic meteorites have actually been seen to fall. 
The meteoric stones, on the other hand, unless their fall has been 
observed, are far less likely to be discovered, since they differ so little 
from ordinary stones in appearance that they are easily overlooked 
and under atmospheric influences quickly disintegrate and decay. 
Hence most of the stony meteorites now in collections have been 
seen to fall. 
Over 530 distinct meteoric falls and finds are now known, of 
which the falls number about 270. 
( It has already been noted that but a small proportion of the meteor- 
ites\ which actually reach the earth are ever secured, siitce numbers 
of them fall into the sea or upon uninhabited regions. It will there- 
fore be evident that any conclusions regarding the distribution of 
meteorites which may be drawn from maps showing wherethey have 
fallen must be imperfect and faulty. Such observations as have been 
made, however, indicate that meteorites are not attracted to any par- 
ticular portion of the earth’s surface and that the point at which they 
reach the earth is purely a matter of accident. ) 
The times both of the year and of the day, at which meteorites 
fall, seem to be somewhat more regular. 
A table compiled by Mr. R. P. Greg,* shows that more meteor- 
ites have fallen in June and July and less in December and January 
than in the other months. 
A similar comparison of data by Haidinger,t regarding the times 
of day at which meteorites fall, shows that more have fallen in the 
afternoon thanin the forenoon. This isaresult,as shown by Pro- 
fessor H. A. Newton,f of their movement in direct rather than in 
retrograde orbits, i. e. of their fo//owing the earth. 
London Phil. Mag., November, 1854. 
tSitzungsb. d. k., Ak., d. Wissensch., Vienna, 1867. 
YAm. Jour. Sci., 3rd Ser., Vol. 36, p 1-14. 
