82 
L. Schwendler — On Electric Light Measurements. [March, 
the shrines exhibited are evidently artistic and ornamental, they have no 
direct connection with serpent worship. 
Cup-marks occurring in the vicinity of sepulchral monuments suggest 
their origin in the Smritis, in which it is stated that after the cremation 
of the body, the son of the deceased is directed to offer water and milk 
and to the manes of the departed, and the water and milk are 
generally presented in unburnt clay cups, and it is not unoften that they 
are poured in little hollows made with the finger on the soft ground of the 
river side where the funeral ceremony is generally performed. May n it 
the -cup-marks on stone slabs represent these water and milk cups offered 
to the spirits of the departed ? 
The ant hill has been known to be a resort of snakes where these 
reptiles have been seen to coil themselves up for comfortable and warm 
lodging. The eggs of ants and the queens of the same are well known 
favourite food of snakes. 
2. Precis of a Report on Electric Light Experiments.—Eg 
L. Schwendlek, Esq. 
Mr. ScnwENDLER said it would be impracticable to read the “ Precis 
of Report on Electric Light Experiments” in extenso, since it contained 
too many technicalities which could not easily be followed if the paper were 
read in the manner usual at these meetings, and that he therefore would 
prefer to give verbally a short account of his researches and the results 
obtained. He stated that the enquiry originated with General Strachey 
who, in April 1870, recommended to the Secretary of State that a trial of 
illuminating Indian Railway Stations by the electric light, should be made. 
In February 1877, Mr. Schwendler was requested to institute detailed 
enquiries which led him to propose that it would be advisable to first make 
some more experiments, before a practical trial at Indian Railway Stations 
should be attempted. The Board of Directors of the East Indian Railway 
Company agreed to this, and sanctioned the necessary outlay, whatever 
it might come to. 
The experiments made at the India Office Stores, London, terminated 
on the 1 st November, 1878. The report, however, could not be finished in 
time, before Mr. Schwendler left for India, and he therefore prepared a 
Precis—the paper before the meeting to-night. After pointing out the 
general results obtained, and explaining in a brief manner the three principal 
questions at issue, viz.— 
Economy of the electric light; practicability and efficiency of the 
electric light Jor certain illuminating purposes ; and best means of distri¬ 
bution of the electric light —Mr. Schwendler proceeded : 
