254 History of Luminescence 



Mundi (Cambridge, 1635, Chap. V, Sec. 2) by John Swan (fl. 1635) . 

 Swan pointed out that 



meteors consist of Exhalations, and Exhalations are of two kindes. 

 1. There is Fumus (a kinde of Smoke) and 2. Vapor (from the water 

 or some watry place) .... 



And in coming to particulars, it may be found that those kinde of 

 Meteors concerning which I speak, are of three sorts; either Fierie, 

 Waterie, or Aierie. 



Fierie are of two sorts: either such as are in very deed fired; or else 

 such as onely seem to burn, which are therefore called Phasmata: In 

 which regard it may be said that these Fierie ones are either Flames or 

 Apparations. . . . 



Furthermore, these Fiery impressions, according to the diverse dis- 

 posing of their matter, are of severall fashions; and thereupon they have 

 severall appellations, being called according unto the names of those 

 things unto which they seem to be like. As 1. Torches. 2. Burning 

 Beams. 3. Round Pillars. 4. Pyramidal pillars. 5. Burning Spears, 

 Streams, or Darts. 6. Dancing or Leaping goats. 7. Flying sparks. 8. 

 Shooting Starres. 9. Flying Launces. 10. Fires, either scattered, or else as 

 if the aire burned. 11. Flying Dragons or Fire-drakes. 12. Wandering 

 Lights. 13. And also licking or cleaving fire, sticking on the hairs of 

 men or beasts. 



Now all these kindes (of which I have mentioned thirteen) I take to 

 be such fierie Meteors as are said to be pure and not mixt. 



Then again have you those which are said to be mixt and lesse pure: 

 As 1. Comets of all sortes. 2. All kindes of lightening. 3. Unto which 

 must be joyned thunder, as an adjunct. . . . 



It will be noted that the list and the explanation of meteors differ 

 little from the classification of William Fulke (1538-1589) written 

 in the last century (1563) , as indicated in Chapter III. Fulke's book 

 of 1563 was reissued in 1640 under a new name. Meteors, or a Plain 

 Description of all Kinds of Meteors, as well Fiery and Ayrie as Watry 

 and Earthy, etc. by W. F. (London, 1640) . In fact no change in 

 point of view occurred until the eighteenth century. A number of 

 the categories describe the various manifestations of the aurora 

 borealis; others can hardly be called luminescences. Among the 

 electrical phenomena included among meteors, the northern lights, 

 and ignis lambens may be considered true luminescences, although 

 it is often difficult to draw a sharp distinction between the brush 

 and glow discharge of electricity. As one of the earliest lumines- 

 cences to be observed by mankind, and as a cold light which has 

 been compared to that of luminous wood by Jules de Viano (1788) , 

 the aurora borealis will be treated first in a brief account, which 

 does not pretend to cover completely the various theories regarding 



