ELECTKICITV. 491 



let the electrical machine be worked ; then stop the mo- 

 tion of the machine, and instantly bring the hot sealing- 

 wax within four or five inches of the prime conductor, 

 moving it about in a winding direction, and you will find 

 that the sealing-wax throws several exceedingly fine 

 threads to the prime conductor, which appear like red 

 wool. This experiment answers best where the conduc- 

 tor is covered with varnish. 



Mr Adams describes this experiment in the following 

 manner. ' Stick,' he says, ' a piece of sealing-wax on 

 the conductor in such a manner, as it may easily be set 

 on fire by a taper. While it is flaming, turn the cylin- 

 der, the wax will become pointed, and shoot out an al- 

 most invisible thread into the air, to the length of a yard 

 and more. If the filaments that are thrown out by the 

 wax are received on a sheet of paper, the paper will be 

 covered with them in a very curious manner, and the 

 particles of the wax will be so far subdivided as to re- 

 semble fine cotton. To fasten the piece of wax conve- 

 niently to the conductor, stick it first on a small piece of 

 paper, then twist the end of the paper so as to fit one of 

 the holes which are made in the prime conductor ; when 

 it is thus placed it may easily be fired by a taper.' 



7. The dancing images. A flat circular piece of 

 copper is suspended in a horizontal position from the 

 prime conductor. At the distance of a few inches from 

 it, another similar piece is laid upon the table or upon 

 something connected with the table. Upon this last me- 

 tallic plate, the experimenter lays a few paper images, 

 generally made of a grotesque form, and upon charging 

 the prime conductor and of course the upper metallic 

 plate, these images are attracted to it. Upon coming in 

 contact they become similarly electrified, and are conse- 

 quently immediately repelled. They fall back to the 

 lower plate, where they part with their electricity, and 

 are immediately attracted again, and thus by an alter- 

 nate attraction and repulsion, they dance from, one to the 

 other with no little agility. 



8. The dancing balls. In this case the inside of a 

 tumbler is charged by bringing the parts successively into 

 contact with a brass ball connected with the prime con- 



