The preferential distribution of carbon atoms among three different interstitial sites of &agr; iron, depending on the direction of the spontaneous magnetization, has a close formal resemblance to the directional order induced by a field cooling. The measurement of the hysteresis loops of &agr; iron and with carbon content 0.0046% by weight actually revealed such close resemblance to those of the Perminvar type alloys and those of certain ferrites containing cobalt oxide.