44 



CHAPTER Y. 

 METEOROLOGICAL PHOSPHORESCENCE. 



NUMEROUS observations leave no space for doubt 

 regarding phosphorescence of the drops of rain in 

 certain storms. The phosphoric light produced in 

 these circumstances shows itself upon the coats of 

 travellers, or on the borders of their hats, etc. 

 This phenomenon astonished M. de Saussure whilst 

 travelling on the summit of the Breven ; whenever 

 he lifted his hand, he felt a sort of creeping sensa- 

 tion in the fingers, and in a short time an electric 

 spark was drawn from a golden button affixed to 

 the hat of his companion, M. Jalabert. The storm 

 roared in the clouds around him. 



A somewhat similar phenomenon occurred to 

 Dr. Kane, the intrepid Arctic explorer, which, for 

 certain reasons, we shall speak of in a future 

 chapter. 



On the 25th of January, 1822, during a heavy 

 shower of snow, M. de Thielaw, on his route to 



