196 



THE NEW KNOWLEDGE. 



case of some elements, the lines of the spectrum, instead 

 of being irregularly distributed, are arranged rythmically 

 so that in appearance they strongly resemble a Corinthian 

 column seen under a strong side light. Such line spectra 

 are called fluted spectra. The spectrum of carbon is a 

 beautiful and typical example of fluted spectra. Fig. 47, 



Fig. 47. Fluting of carbon. 



In the case of certain elements, again, the lines arrange 

 themselves in accordance with a beautiful law in such a 

 fashion that they constitute a sequence numerically related 

 to one another. Such a sequence of rythmically related 

 lines is called a series. Fig. 48. 



Violet 



Red 



Fig. 48. The series in the cleveite gases. 



