384 Scientific Intelligence — Meteorolog>f. 



and I have le<anied in what places it appears most frequently. I 

 have therefore gone in the evening, sometimes to one place, sometimes 

 to another, and continued my observations for many days, both 

 during a clear and cloudy sky. I took up my station chiefly at the 

 entrance to the cemetery, because I was assured tliat it was there in 

 particular where it appeared, althougli, in fact, I did not notice one 

 at this point. Tliese researches were undertaken in the autumn, 

 when, according to the general opinion, this luminous phenomenon 

 shews itself more frequently than at any otlier season, perhaps on 

 account of the rapid changes of the atmospheric pressure, which 

 allow the gases enclosed in the earth to escape more easily, by fa- 

 vouring their natural elasticity. 



I perceived only three of these lights, but on different nights. The 

 first was one of those which issue from the ground, rise to a certain 

 height, and then suddenly become extinguished. I can say nothing 

 more respecting these than that they rise rapidly in a vertical lino 

 to a height of three or four metres, and then become extinct with a 

 slight detonation. The second moved in a horizontal direction, and 

 I could not long follow it. The wind carried it to the banks of the 

 river Idice, where it disappeared. With regard to the third, which 

 afforded me the opportunity of making tlie experiments I wished, I 

 must enter into more circumstantial details. 



A place fruitful of ignes fatui is the parish of San-Donino, parti- 

 cularly in tho neighbourhood of the small church of Ascension, about 

 two miles from Bologna, and especially quite close to a pool, in a 

 rivulet where, three years ago, three sacrificial vessels of fine Roman 

 workmanship were found. On many successive nights I have re- 

 paired to this spot, but in vain. However, one evening in October, 

 which was succeeded by an aurora borealis and rain, I entered tho 

 house of a peasant on the field where the pool occurs. Shortly after, 

 I opened tho window, which overlooks the place where the phenome- 

 non most commonly shews itself. About 11 o'clock I saw the light 

 appear which I was desirous to observe ; and I instantly seized the 

 stick which I always kept ready for the purpose, and which had some 

 flax attached to its extremity, and speedily repaired to the spot indi- 

 cated. When I was not more than about twenty feet from the light, 

 I stopped a moment to observe it. It had the form and colour of an 

 ordinary flame, with a slight discharge of smoke. Its thickness was 

 about a decimetre ; and it was moving slowly in a direction from 

 south to north. When I approached nearer it changed its direction, 

 retired from me, and began to rise upwards. I hurried forward with 



