i8 82.] 
453 
Will-o'-the-wisp . a Confession : 
when the barometer is low ! Rainy and windy weather is 
not unfrequently foretokened by the rise of bubbles of gas 
from the bottom of ponds and marshes. We can readily 
understand, however, that a light produced by inflammable 
gas might, if the supply was large and constant, hover over 
an extensive marsh or graveyard. But in such cases it 
would not be one and the same portion of luminous matter 
flitting up and down, but a succession of fresh bubbles, jets, 
or puffs of gas becoming ignited in turn. This accords ill 
with the faCts as reported by observers ; they generally speak 
of a single continuing light. 
Another hypothesis refers the phenomenon to electricity. 
We always find that the less any person knows about elec- 
tricity the more easy he finds it to account for any unex- 
plained faCts by its agency. Luminous appearances of 
eleCtric origin are certainly well known such as the “ Castor 
and Pollux,” which appears at the extremities of the masts 
of ships during stormy weather. Similar lights have been 
noticed, especially in mountainous regions, attaching them- 
selves to umbrellas, lances, alpenstocks, &c. But these 
phenomena seem essentially distinct from the true Ignis 
fatuus , which, as we have already said, is characteristic of 
fine weather, and moves about instead of attaching itself to 
pointed objects. 
In all probability several distinct phenomena have been 
confounded under the name of Ignis fatuus , and further 
careful observation is required for their respective discrimi- 
nation. Those persons who live in or visit regions where 
the Wisp occurs might do good service by noting all the 
circumstances of each case at the earliest possible oppor- 
tunity. The nature of the soil, the barometric pressure, 
temperature, the wind, and in short the entire character of 
the weather, should be recorded, and an attempt should be 
made to take the speCtrum of the light. 
It appears that the mediaeval and popular notion of the 
Wisp — a conscious and evil-disposed being — is again 
brought forward by persons of education. “ Miror,” whom 
we have already quoted, whilst accepting the hydrogen 
phosphide hypothesis, asks further — “ May not, however, 
Spirits of a low and malicious order, bent on mischief, when 
they find a natural medium in the dark, under circumstances 
favourable to their malice, make use of this gas, found in 
marshy places, to suit their purpose ? Or may not an evil 
Spirit, fond of marshy places, have the power to turn an 
Ignis fatuus , that has its rise from natural causes, into a 
