CASES OF LIGHTNING DISCHARGE. 253 



in front of them ; to the latter two a bright light seemed to be 

 thrown in their faces and the loud report was instantaneous. 

 These two afterwards detected a sulphurous smell, and all felt 

 a sensation like an electric shock. There had been some distant 

 thunder anl rain shortly afternoon. It had afterwards been 

 bright but stormy looking ; and though clouds were gathering in 

 the evening, there was at that time no thunder or lightning. 

 Shortly afterwards there was heavy thunder near, followed by 

 a copious shower. A. K." 



Mr. Knight's second account also describes a form of dis- 

 charge about which very little is known. It is unfortunate that 

 no photograph was obtained, as it would seem from comments 

 in a recent electrical journal that no photograph ever has been 

 obtained of this phenomenon, and it has been customary to dis- 

 credit statements as to its appearance. Mr. Knight's note differs 

 from the more usual accounts, in which the ball of fire is said to 

 run about before bursting, but is closely analogous to a case 

 quoted by Dr. Oliver Lodge,* in which however the ball 

 is described as of a reddish yellow colour, changing to 

 vivid white. Mr. Knight's account is as follows : — " On the 14th 

 October, 1898, there was a very severe thunder squall — strong 

 wind, violent rain anl much thunder, not very distant. It came 

 on suddenly, about 7 p.m., as we were going down to dinner ; 

 and as I was about to take my seat at the end of the table, facing 

 the back of the house, I saw an explosion in the air, like that 

 of a fireball or bomb, probably four or five feet above the ground, 

 and there was a loud bang. The light appeared greenish white. 

 There is no doubt that it was in the back garden, as it was 

 located there by some neighbours whose line of sight was at 

 right angles with mine." 



Mr. Ridley reports also the two following cases of globular 

 lightning, differing from that of Mr. Knight in that the pheno- 

 mena occurred outside the storm. " Some few years ago, I was 

 sitting in my verandah, about 7 p.m ; it was quite dark, and there 

 was a thunderstorm going on over the Economic Garden. Sud- 

 denly there was an intensely brilliant flash and instantaneous 

 explosion close to the house. My back was towards the garden, 



* Lightning Conductors and Lightning Guards. Prof. O. J. Lodge. 



