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Sect- IX.] 



METEOROLOGY. 



315 



the surface of the sea, and so reaching, striking and 



on s 



hip 



appearances which have been 



Bilp- 



posed analogous to the electrical phenomenon termed 

 the ffloiv discharge. Attend to every circumstance which 

 may favour or oppose thi» idea—especially the height of 

 the clouds at the time, and whether or no remarkablv 

 depressed along the line taken by the fireball. 



Should the ship be struck by lightning, if furnished 

 with Sir Snow Harris's conductors (which appear to afford 

 almost complete security against serious damage), 



mine the 



.gneti 



(originally non-magnetic) fixed transversely across the 

 copper conducting plates. Note any luminous appearance 

 seen along the line of conduction. Immediately on the 

 stroke, ascertain, by placing the hand on the conducting 

 plate, whether it is in any degree heated. Notice pecu- 

 liar noises, and endeavour to trace their origin, also the 

 mode in which the lightning escapes from the ship, and 

 the phenomena attending its escape.* If damage be 

 done, describe minutely the sort of effects produced, and 

 endeavour to trace the direction and character of the 



forces immediately productive of such 

 mechanical. 



as are 



purely 



Ahuuspherk Eledricmj can hardly be well studied at 

 sea, the masts, sails, and rigging acting as pcrpetuallv 

 interfering conductors. Indeed it is said that, except in 

 actual thunderstorms, no indications whatever of atmos- 



pheric electricity can be detected 



in the open ocean. 



iliip 



* For the infinitely varied wivs in -wIiI^k i- x.^ • ^ 



, , , -^ ^^'^J^ ^^^^"chhghtmngniav affect a suip 



when struck we recomn^end a perusal of Sir S. Harris's short Z 



interesting work Eemarkable Instances of the Protection of certain 

 bh.ps from the Destructive Effects of Lightning, &c./ London, 1847. 



V 2 



