398 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
nomenon. The self-registering apparatus attached to Robinson'^s anemometer 
suddenly, and without the application of an electric battery, commenced register- 
ing the velocity of the wind, which at that time was blowing quite briskly. 
The most interesting phenomenon, however, I had an opportunity to observe 
on the very summit of Pike's Peak, during the occurrence of a severe thunder- 
storm, probably 3,000 feet below our feet. On this occasion my party became 
somewhat alarmed at the effects of the atmospheric electricity upon men in pro- 
ducing an itching sensation in all extremities, a crackling noise, slight nausea 
and a humming noise, somewhat resembUng that produced by the swarming of at 
hive of bees. On this occasion I recalled a certain experience I had in 1871. 
At that time I was in charge of the meteorological station in Leavenworth, Kan- 
sas, and had established my office on the third floor of a very tall house, the roof 
of which was covered with tin. On the roof I had placed quite a number of 
instruments, among which was a wind-vane with telescopic rod^ the lower end 
extending to the ceiling of my room, where a gilded arrow, connected with the 
rod indicated the direction of the wind. The elevation of the upper extremity of 
the rod, ending in a gilded point, was about twenty feet above the roof. Quite 
frequently I had noticed, while sitting at my desk, and most especially during 
the prevalence of thunder-clouds, a peculiar, singing noise, which I then com- 
pared to that produced by swarming bees, without being able to detect the cause 
of the noise. At one time, however, being employed on the roof, in making 
repairs to some of the apparatus, my attention was drawn to this singing noise 
proceeding, apparently, from the iron structure of the wind-vane. Upon apply- 
ing my ear to the rod I could plainly and distinctly hear this sound. Now, in 
placing the telescopic rod in position I had observed a gas pipe in close proximity,. 
I removed a portion of the ceiling and by means of a copper wire made a con- 
nection with this pipe — and indirectly established a ground connection — and from 
that time I failed to notice the recurrence of this noise, although I paid the closest 
attention during the entire next year, the last one I spent in that office. 
While thus employed in comparing the pecuhar sound I extended my finger 
towards one of my companions and instantly a spark was seen to pass over. The 
hair on our heads stood on end, and a diverging position was noticeable in the 
hair on the tails of our horses, which we had left standing about seven feet off. 
Bits of paper which I threw into the air became attracted by the horses and 
attached themselves firmly to their tails. A discharge from the clouds restored 
the equilibrium, but the phenomenon repeated itself several times during the next 
ten or fifteen minutes, the duration of the thunder-storm. 
ABSTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. R. SEVBOTH, FOR 1874. 
January 5. — Humidity increased during the day and reached saturation at 
night, although the weather was nearly clear. The line worked badly all day. 
I could plainly hear the (Colorado) Springs calling me but could not break until 
night. 
January 31. — From some unexplainable cause the afternoon report was de- 
