314 Rev. Mr Macvicar on a Meteorological Phenomenon 



to the sun, but there was a general covering of about three 

 inches depth, which had fallen since the same party was there 

 two days before. This was easy to be conceived, for about 

 one o'clock, the temperature fell to 33°.5, a fresh breeze having 

 arisen from the south-east, bringing a nimbus along with it. 

 When the storm reached us, it proved to be snow, which con- 

 tinued to fall very heavily for about two hours. Soon after 

 it began, our attention was attracted by a very singular noise, 

 which was heard every where around us. It exactly re- 

 sembled the hissing sound which proceeds from a point on an 

 excited prime conductor, or a strongly-charged Leyden phial 

 of an electrical apparatus, indicating the emission of a pencil 

 of electric light, which, had the daylight not overpowered it, 

 should certainly have been visible. This sound was always 

 loud, and more or less distinct for about an hour and a half. 

 It seemed to proceed from every point near us. But amidst 

 the general hissing, I was convinced that I could specify the 

 summit of my umbrella and several points of the rocks from 

 which I heard it issuing. On removing to the cairn on the 

 highest point of the mountain, the phenomenon became re- 

 markably manifest, and we could almost determine the stones 

 from which the pencils were proceeding. 



Though this sound of the electric fluid is so completely 

 sui generis, as scarcely to be confounded with any thing else, 

 an accident now occurred, which afforded another evidence of 

 the nature of the action which occasioned it, when we were 

 seeking for none. One of the party having fallen behind the 

 rest, in examining some parts of the mountain, came up to 

 the others while they were wondering at the sound, and try- 

 ing to find shelter from the storm beside the cairn ; and were 

 it not, that complacency and fortitude are unalterably express- 

 ed in his countenance, we should certainly have concluded, 

 either that he had seen " the angry spirit of the storm," or 

 something else very terrific ; for, as is always stated of per- 

 sons having witnessed such sights, " steterunt comae," — the 

 hair of his head stood on end — not indeed all his hair, but 

 those locks only which enjoyed something of their natural 

 freedom to move, having withstood the pelting action of the 

 snow and rain several hours. For botanists, contrary to the 



