126 The Sky 
merely the reflection of other kinds of lightning upon sur- 
rounding clouds. Lightning of this type is commonly ob- 
served during the frequent brief thundershowers of summer 
and when the actual storm has already passed or not yet 
begun, the flashes are often called “heat” lightning. 
ST. ELMO’S FIRE 
During an electric storm other less dramatic phenomena 
may occur on shipboard. A familiar form is St. Elmo's Fire— 
a bright continuous glow emanating from mast tops, sharp 
corners, and rigging. Streaks of bluish flame are visible from 
all high points. The strength of these discharges varies ac- 
cording to the strength of the storm. As the storm increases 
in fury, the St. Elmo’s fire grows brighter and larger; and as 
the storm wanes, the mysterious lights flicker and die. If one 
climbs to such a point of discharge and extends his hand out 
toward the sky, the flames will leap off his finger tips, the 
electric discharge passing through his body, and yet there 
will be almost no perceptible shock. However, such electric 
currents may have some temporary minor physiological 
effect. Sailors who have been exposed to St. Elmo’s fire in the 
rigging of old ships have been known to complain of slight 
disturbances of vision, dizziness, etc. It is not 'certain whether 
the effect is imaginary, or whether it is due to the ozone given 
off by the electric discharge or some more subtle effect. 
Many strange tales about freak tricks played by lightning 
are told, some of doubtful truth, such as the story about the 
sailor who was struck by a bolt of lightning which left the 
name of his ship branded upon his chest, or the one about 
the ship’s officer who had all his gold braid burned off with- 
out suffering any other ill effects. 
