76 THE EFFECTS OF A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 



hedge to the S.E. The next trace of the damage done to this 

 tree is some loft, lower near where the trunk divides; from 

 thence downwards, on the south side of the trunk to the ground, 

 a broad piece of bark from six inches to a foot wide and reaching 

 to the ground was thrown off and over the hedge, along with the 

 piece of dead limb mentioned above ; the woody substance of the 

 tree being scored and ripped in places. At the base of the tree, 

 between two large root-spurs, where the electric current apparently 

 entered the earth, a large clod or turf (PI. V., i. c.) was 

 thrown up and turned over, but not wholly detached. On 

 the north side of the trunk of this tree, at eight or ten feet 

 from the ground, the bark was split and a piece from two 

 to six inches in width thrown off. No. 2. A small oak 6in. 

 in diameter only, underneath No. 3. Very slightly struck on 

 a small dead branch about 7 it. from the ground, peeling off the 

 bark only. No trace of the passage of the electric fluid into 

 the ground. No. 3. A large oak 2 ft. 6in. in diameter and about 

 5 oft. high. Slightly struck beneath the under side of a dead 

 limb about loft, from the ground, the bark only thrown off; no 

 connection apparent with the ground, all trace disappearing 

 about 3ft. from the connection of the dead limb with the trunk. 

 No. 4 (Pis. VI., Fig. 4, and III., 4). A large oak, the largest in 

 the group, nearly 3ft. in diameter and about 6oft. high, struck 

 below the middle of the tree about i8ft. from the ground on 

 the face of the central limb (or body) and on a dead spur (much 

 splintered) from another limb (or body) just below the former. 

 The main current appeared to have come down the latter limb 

 and so down the trunk of the tree to the ground, ripping off the 

 bark from 6in. to i5in. in width on the north-west side (PL 

 VI., Fig. 4a.), and throwing it to a considerable distance. A 

 smaller current only seems to have struck or abraded the bark 

 here and there on the opposite ^or south-west) side, appearing to 

 unite again with the main current before reaching the ground. A 

 hole in the earth was made and a clod of turf torn and thrown up 

 at the foot of the tree where the ground was entered. The bark 



