METEOROLOGY. 425 



there is a neutralization of the electricity from one part to another of 

 the atmosphere above, the induced electricity in the earth is set free, 

 and we have earth currents to bring about a redistribution of the elec- 

 tricity on the surface of the earth. 



"It seems to me that this theory not only accounts for the connection 

 between the phenomena (which, however, could otherwise be accounted 

 for), but enables us to conceive how it is that electricity strikes across 

 such enormous distances iu the upper regions of the air, and I think 

 further it will account for some interesting features of that electric dis- 

 charge which, no doubt, constitutes the aurora. 



'•If there is reason to believe that when the sun is in a state of special 

 activity as to vertical currents and sunspots there is then an increased 

 radiation from it, it may be well that the meteorology of the earth is af- 

 fected by the changes which take place at the surface of the sun, but 

 the meteorology of the earth forms an extremely' complicated problem." 

 {Nature, October, 1881, xxiv, pp. C16-18.) 



S. H. Freeman communicates to the American Journal of Science the 

 result of some experiments on the production of electricity by evapora- 

 tion; his results are adverse to the theory that any sensible amount of 

 atmospheric electricity can have been produced by evaporation on the 

 earth's surface. (American Journal of Science, June, 1882.) 



Captain Kerr states that in the severe storm on the Firth of Forth in 

 November, 1881, his vessel was enveloped in a dense shower of hail and 

 electrical discharges. At one time a series of clear balls of lightning, 

 resembling a chain, was observed immediately over the ship, and was 

 succeeded by an explosion in the funnel of the steamer, followed by balls 

 of fire running along the bridge and bounding off" into the water; the 

 engine room was tilled with smoke, and it would seem as though the 

 lightning had passed down the funnel. (JVa^wre, xxv, p. 125.) 



Mr. Cruls has communicated to the Paris Academy a memoir on the 

 variation in the annual number of thunder-storms at Kio Janeiro during 

 3851 to J 870 ; he fiuds a close correspondence with the frequency of solar 

 spots. {Nature, xxv, p. 21.) 



J. Moir states that on February 18, 1882, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 

 a severe storm was followed by a specially dark cloud and " a vivid flash 

 of lightning close at hand, but without thunder. At the same time I 

 found myself enveloped in a sheet of pale, flickering, white light. It 

 seemed to proceed from every part of my clothes. I found it impossible 

 to shake off the flickering flames ; when I walked on they continued with 

 me for two or three minutes, disappearing only when the violence of the 

 blast was somewhat dirainivshed." The great variety of methods of 

 manifestation of atmospheric electricity makes it desirable that some 

 one should collect such descriptions as the above and contribute to the 

 elucidation of the subject. {Nature, xxv, p. 410.) 



Additional cases of similar phenomena are given by two other cor- 

 respondents iu Nature, xxv, pp. 427 and 484. 



