280 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



PHENOMENA OF LIGHTNING. 

 1. Liglitning ivithout visible clouds. 



Wtid, Me., Mmj 28, 1850. — At 9 o'clock in the evening, vivid flaslies 

 of liglitning appeared above the western horizon, while not a cloud was 

 to be seen in the visible concave. The stars shone brilliantly, and I 

 could readily distinguish those of the 5th magnitude immediately 

 above the western hills^ whence the lightning appeared to emanate. 

 The shy in that quarter was vividly illuminated by the lightning at 

 least fifty times during five or ten minutes. 



S.ilhvater, Minnesota Territory, July 20, 1852. — Being out in the 

 open air, in the evening, I observed a sudden flash of lightning which 

 was followed by several succeeding flashes, occurring once in every 

 few moments. No thunder was heard. The flashes of lightning 

 were quite vivid and had a flickering appearance ; but they seemed to 

 emanate from no particular quarter of the sky, being diffused over 

 the whole visible arena. At the time, but a few clouds could be seen, 

 most of t]jese being small, thin, and fleecy ; and the sky presented a 

 dingy or hazy ground, particularly so near the horizon. Along the 

 northwestern horizon lay a small stratum of clouds, but they pre- 

 sented no appearance of being the seat of the electric discharges ; on 

 the other hand they remained quite dark during the several flashes. 

 At daybreak on the succeeding morning, we experienced a smart 

 thunder-storm. 



Weld, Me., May 28, 1853. — In the evening the sky was very clear; 

 not a single cloud was to be seen in any quarter. While out in the 

 open air, between 9 and 10 o'clock, 1 observed a great number of 

 vivid flashes of lightning. I could not discern that the lightning 

 proceeded from any particular part of the sky. The sky was slightly 

 smoky or dingy near the horizon. 



2. Cuspidated lightning. 



Weld, Me., June Y, 1850. — At 6 o'clock p. m. we experienced a heavy 

 thunder-storm. When the storm had passed a little to the eastward 

 tri-cuspidated WghinmgvfiXB exhibited ; that is to say, the electric dis- 

 charge emanated from the clouds as a single chain^ but soon divided, 

 approaching the earth in three different lines. After the lapse of a 

 few minutes I observed four distinct streams of the electric fluid to 

 emanate from the same point and at the same time, and pursue as 

 many different paths to the earth. 



Prairie luest of Freeport, Illinois, May 30, 1851. — Being out in the 

 open air in tlie evening, during a severe thunder-storm, I observed 

 hi- cuspidated and also tri-cuspidated electric discharges. 



Stillioater, Minnesota Territory, July 4, 1852. — At 8 o'clock p. m,, 

 there was a large body of thunder-clouds just above the eastern hori- 

 zon, on the north side of wliich were two horn-like projections extending 

 outward parallel with the horizon and each other to the extent of 

 about 12°, and being about the same distance apart. There were fre- 



