339 



It is interesting to remark that a regular system of vibrations 

 occurs in the streams thus affected by wave-like subdivisions, 

 enabling them to produce strong musical tones, when suffered to 

 strike upon an elastic surface, and to communicate similar musi- 

 cal vibrations even to the reservoir itself In this action we dis- 

 cern somewhat analogous conditions to those of the powerful vibra- 

 tory movements attending the descent of large masses of water 

 over dams. 



Prof. William B. Rogers stated the results of further 

 experiments on Sonorous Flames which he had made 

 since the last meeting of the society. 



He had previously attempted, but without a satisfactory result, 

 to obtain the musical vibrations with flames of alcohol and other 

 liquids burned directly from a wick. More recently, by employ- 

 ing hollow circular wicks and using tubes but slightly exceeding 

 them in diameter, he had been able to produce these musical 

 effects with the flames of sulphuric ether, common alcohol, and 

 the mixture of the latter with spirits of turpentine, which is 

 known as burning fluid. By using an iron tube at a high tem- 

 perature he had obtained, though less perfectly, a similar result 

 with the flame of spermaceti oil. 



As the effect in these experiments depends on the access to the 

 flame of a current of air of definite amount and velocity, and in a 

 proper direction, it is necessary to adjust the diameter of the wick 

 and size of the flame to the dimensions of the tube employed, and 

 to hold the tube with its lower edge a little below that of the 

 wick. The flame will then be seen to contract, to lose much of 

 its brilliancy, and, after more or less of a rattling sound, to give 

 forth a musical tone, which, with a little care, may be rendered 

 quite smooth and continuous. 



These results are readily obtained with the flame of the small 

 circular wick lamp now in use for burning the mixture of alcohol 

 and turpentine. In this form of lamp the wick-tubes rise about 

 two inches above the reservoir, and an internal movable tube is 

 provided, which, being raised or lowered, serves to vary the depth 

 of the wick and to adjust the flame with great nicety. The body 

 of the lamp should be removed from its pedestal and placed on a 



