160 



air, between the sun, and the eye of the spectator. The 

 rays of the sun reflected from* these, may form that 

 bright circle, in certain parts whereof, by a double re- 

 fraction and reflection of them, those fictitious suns ap- 

 pear. In the same manner, the appearances termed 

 mock moons may be accounted for. 



7. Among fiery meteors are reckoned, thunder, 

 lightning, ignes fatui, lambent fiames, and what are called, 

 falling stars. Unless we account for these (as indeed it 

 is easy to do) upon the principles of electricity, we must 

 suppose they are owing to sulphureous, or bituminous 

 particles floating in the air, which when collected in suf- 

 ficient quantities, take fire by various means. If a large 

 quantity of inflammable vapour takes fire at once, the 

 flame tears the cloud with incredible force, as well as 

 immense noise. But the light moving swifter than the 

 sound, is seen before that is heard. Sometimes an ex- 

 halation of a milder kind takes fire, and produces light- 

 ning without thunder, When it thunders and lightens, 

 it commonly rains too, the same shock driving together, 

 and condensing the clouds ; and the wisdom of God 

 appoints it so, for the preservation of his creatures, 

 For if lightning falls on one who is thoroughly wet, 

 it does him no arm at all. Not that the water quenches, 

 or resists the fire ; but it conveys it into the ground. 



High places are most frequently struck with lightning, 

 if they have sharp points, as spires of churches, or tops 

 of trees, .which as it were, attract the fire. It sometimes 

 burns tlie clothes without hurting the body; sometimes 

 breaks the bones without scorching the skin. It melts the 

 sword in the scabbard, or money in the pocket, while 

 the scabbard or pocket remains as it was, In general it 

 passes insocently through those things that make little 

 or no resistance ; but tears those in pieces with impetu- 

 ous force, .which resist its passage. 



One very particular effect of lightning, is what the 

 vulgar call, fairy circles. These are of two kinds. One 

 kind, is a round, bare path, about a foot broad, witk 



