i88o.] 
On Water and Air. 
65 
beautiful films which it is our objedt to produce. I will 
turn the water on and allow it to fall, or to impinge, as we 
call it, upon this little brass plate. [A stream of water from 
the end of a lead pipe was allowed to fall on the centre of 
a circular flat brass plate, which was supported by a brass 
pillar standing in the centre of a large concave metallic 
pan. The water, upon reaching the brass plate, was spread 
out in all directions, and fell as a continuous film, the shape 
of which was, for the most part, dome-like, but occasion- 
ally became nearly globular.] Now you have that beautiful 
umbrella — that beautiful parasol of water. You observe 
the tenacious way in which the water clasps the stem. 
[The experiment was repeated with two plates of larger 
sizes. The falling water was illuminated by a beam of 
electric light, the beautiful effect of which was varied by 
the light being caused to pass through coloured glasses.] 
I see that there are small bubbles of air coming down with 
the jet of water, and that is the cause of the film breaking 
so soon ; but still it is very beautiful. I do not want you 
to underrate it at all. Well, this illustrates the tenacity of 
water where there is no soap mixed with it in order to give 
it tenacity. . 
We shall defer the consideration of the other physical 
properties of water to our next ledture. 
F 
votv 11. (third series), 
