1888.] Photographs of Lightyiing Flashes. 301 



irregular form of ihe clouds, when it is from cloud to cloudy 

 and also when from cloud to earth, the earth may present various 

 points also, rather than simply one terminal. The discharge, whether 

 in many simultaneous or many successive sparks must necessarily be 

 very complicated, but still of the character shown by the six sparks in 

 the diagram. The masses of cloud obstructing parts of this com- 

 plication of sparks appear to my mind to afford sufficient explanation 

 of the various forms of lightning shown in the photographs. 



To sum up. It appears probable then, that so far from lightning 

 assuming various forms under conditions at present unknown, it only 

 assumes two forms such as may be obtained in the laboratory, 

 the single spark and the compound flash or series of sparks ; the 

 various forms of the latter being due to modification in appearance 

 by the obstruction of cloud masses. Bearing in mind that the former 

 view is put forward by one of our best living representatives of 

 Meteorological Science, I put forward a contrary vJew with all 

 due diffidence, but in apology for my presumption I lay stress on the 

 fact that my own view is based on photographs taken by myself 

 coupled with personal observation of the condition of sky at the 

 time, whereas the view taken in the Meteorological Society's report 

 is based on an examination of photos taken by others. In their 

 circular the Meteorological Society only asked for the photographs. 

 Had they ventured to ask photographers for particulars, were it only 

 a general description of the sky, though they might have found 

 fewer correspondents to communicate with them, I venture to think 

 that the Committee would have adopted views similar to my own. 



Photographers in other parts of the Colony have better opportunities 

 of recording thunderstorm phenomena than we have here. If their 

 attention is drawn to the fact that by a little trouble on their part 

 they may get results not only interesting in themselves, but of 

 importance in investigating phenomena which cannot be studied 

 without the use of the camera, they will doubtless join in furthering 

 the enquiry. 



I may point out in conclusion that in no photos that have yet 

 been obtained do we get anything like the ridiculous conventional, 

 zigzags which artists represent in their pictures. 



m2 



