LIGHTNING 
213 
Now when the tree that has become the victim of this union 
is straight in the stem, and is a good conductor of electricity, the 
descending positive electricity (which I believe to be the more 
active of the two) will reach the earth before the negative elec- 
tricity has ascended the tree. This was the case of the tall pine, 
where I think the electricity passed down the tree just under the 
bark, where the circulation of the sap is active. 
Hut when there are obstructions to the passage of the fluid, 
as in the case of the gnarled oak, the branching elm, or the 
deodara mentioned by Mr. Hubbard, the union of the two 
currents in the central part of the trees causes the “ explosions ” 
or equivalent phenomena mentioned. 
The palm tree spoken of by Mr. \'ickers needs special explan- 
ation. Trees, as a rule, grow in the broadening of their stems 
by means of a layer of wood being put on under the bark annually, 
but the palm is an exception ; it expands from the centre. The 
wood of the palm is very fibrous, and is probably an indifferent 
conductor of electricity : the branching head is also a hindrance 
to the passage of the electric fluid. Yet this tree was struck, 
being tall and solitary. I cannot think the iron band or nail 
theory of any weight in absence of further evidence. Palms 
have no bark proper, and it may be, in their case, the electric 
fluid would pass down the centre of the tree. 
I think trees are only struck by lightning coming down in a 
perpendicular direction. The current we see wobbles a bit — it is 
not jagged, as it used to be represented in pictures : photography 
has corrected that — this being due, I take it, to uneven obstruc- 
tion or wind in the atmosphere. I can quite imagine it may be 
otherwise in high mountainous regions, where an electrically- 
charged cloud, lying below the mountain tops, may perhaps 
strike out right and left to earth ; but I have never seen this in 
storms in the Swiss mountains. 
Electricity, passing from cloud to cloud charged with different 
electricities, to my mind explains horizontal and slanting light- 
ning, and beyond the distant horizon refraction may make the 
flash to appear somewhat deflected. But near lightning coming 
to earth, to my eyes, has always been straight dowm. 
It is remarkable that w’e never read, except in books of 
fiction, of ships being struck by lightning. I have been at sea in 
most violent storms, with lightning darting into the sea every 
few seconds all around (the water seeming to rise to meet it), 
and have enjoyed the scene without a thought of danger. I cannot 
understand this, and suppose ships must be struck sometimes : 
perhaps their motion is their security. 
I understand that in a typhoon or circular storm lightning 
may be seen flashing in all directions, even upwards : this is not 
to be wondered at. 
I should be most glad if other Selbonians would record what 
they have seen of lightning, and give their explanation of what 
they have witnessed, so that by a comparison of notes we may 
