Miscellaneous Intelligence. 451 
tric discharges. Hitherto this influence has only been shown in the 
case of the luminous arc which escapes between two conducting points, 
which is at its base,a more or less regular fascicle of light. But if 
external extremity of the iron bar is placed in contact with one of 
les of a strong electro-magnet, taking good care to preserve the 
tion, the electric light takes a very different aspect. Instead of issu- 
as before, from the different points of the surface of the terminal 
art of the iron bar, it is emitted only from the points which form the 
tour of this part, so as to constitute. a continuous luminous ring. 
an 
ischarges and the direction of the magnetization. Lastl 
brilliant jets appea from this luminous circumference 
founded with those which terminate on the ring, and 
I s as the magnetization ceases, the 
enon be 
in the experiment known by the name of the electrical egg. 
ying any powerful machine at my disposal, I used for my exper- 
2 to communicate with the copper ring, and the isolated conductor 
h receives the vapor with the iron bar, or vice versa when I wishe 
hange the direction of the discharges. ‘The experiment succeeded 
y well in this manner. 
_ The experiment which I have just described appears to me to account 
very satisfactorily for what passes in the phenomenon of the aurora 
borealis; in fact, the light which results from the union of the two elec- 
tricities in the part of the atmosphere which covers the polar regions, 
instead of remaining vaguely distributed, is carried by the action of the 
ial magnetism round the magnetic pole of the globe, whence 
Paet d 
¥ 
# 
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