756 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
7. On a Singular Electrical Eesult. By Mr Harry Rainy. 
Commnnicated by Professor Tait. 
In order to observe the spectrum of coal gas at 
atmospheric pressure, I passed a stream of the gas 
through a tube open at both ends, and into the sides 
of which the platinum electrodes of an induction coil 
were inserted. I noticed that the spectrum gradually 
became narrower. On observing this, I stopped the 
current, and found that a filament of carbon had grown 
upwards from the lower electrode. On examining it 
carefully it appeared to have numerous short branches, 
all of which pointed in the direction of the electrode 
towards which the filament was growing. The time 
which it took to form between the electrodes was, I 
think, under two minutes. 
PEIVATE BUSINESS. 
A Ballot was then taken, and the following were elected British 
Honorary Fellows : — Professor E. Frankland, LL.D., F.R.S. ; 
William Huggins, D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S. ; and Professor Burdon 
Sanderson, LL.D., F.R.S. The following were elected Ordinary 
Fellows: — David Alan Stevenson, Esq., B.Sc., C.E. j Sheriff 
Thoms; R. W. Mylne, Esq., C.E., F.R.S.; and William Evans, 
Esq., F.S.A. 
