Observations on Ignis Fatuus. 347 



ridge, which sloped down on three sides to the beautiful 

 meadows which form the margin of the Connecticut, and of 

 its tributary creeks, and which, owing to their own luxuri- 

 ance and the deposits of the vernal freshets, are covered 

 with rich and constantly decaying vegetable matter. From 

 the circumstance, also, that we had no neighbors in the di- 

 rection of these grounds, a light could not be seen over 

 theui without attracting our notice. I mention this by way 

 of suggesting, that probably the ignis fatuus, in consequence 

 of its not being always distinguished from the lights of sur- 

 rounding houses, and therefore exciting no curiosity, is often- 

 er seen than it is supposed to be. 



These mysterious luminaries used often to be seen by the 

 fishermen ; who plied their nets by night as well as by day. 

 They commonly reported that they saw them a little above 

 the surface of the meadow, dancing up and down, or gliding 

 quietly along in a horizontal line. Sometimes two, or even 

 three, would be seen together, skipping and dancing or sail- 

 ing away in roncert, as if rejoicing in their mutual compan- 

 ionship. I might entertain you with abundance of fabulous 

 accounts of them — the offspring of imaginations tinctured 

 with superstition, and of minds credulous from a natural love 

 of the marvellous. Fables, however, are of little value for 

 the purposes of science : if the following account of some 

 of the phenomena of the ignis fatuus, shall, with the obser- 

 vations of others, contribute towards a true theory of its na- 

 ture, you will think them worthy of a place in your Journal. 



A friend of mine, returning from abroad late in the even- 

 ing, had to cross a strip of marsh. As he approached the 

 causeway, he noticed a light towards the opposite end, which 

 he supposed to be a lantern in the hand of some person whom 

 he was about to meet. It proved, however, to be a solitary 

 flame, a few inches above the marsh, at the distance of a few 

 feet from the edge of the causeway. He stopped some time 

 to look at it ; and was strongly tempted, notwithstanding the 

 miriness of the place, to get nearer to it, for the purpose of 

 closer examination. It was evidently a vapor, [phosphuret- 

 ted hydrogen ?] issuing from the mud, and becoming ignited, 

 or at least luminous, in contact with the air. It exhibited a 

 flickering appearance, like that of a candle expiring in its 

 socket ; alternately burning with a large flame and then sink- 

 ing to a small taper ; and occasionally, for a moment, be- 

 coming quite extinct. It constantly appeared over the same 

 spot. 



