428 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
then rising to a height of eight or ten feet. It was then 
evident that it was the Ignis Fatuus. Anxious to examine it 
more closely, I stood still. In a little time, the light seemed 
to approach ; it then gradually increased in size, and appeared 
and disappeared every instant. Its quivering and vibratory 
motion most resembled that of a sheet of gold leaf. In 
a little time, it divided itself into two parts, one remaining on 
one side of the road (which was bordered with broad ditches), 
the other on the opposite side, leaving a thin streak of light 
between, and then uniting again in a moment. 
At last, it approached so near that it appeared almost equal 
in size to the full moon, having a globular form, and emitting 
a light sufficiently bright to render a gate which stood near 
perfectly visible. It advanced so rapidly, that it was rather 
startling, and distinctly touched my cheek, upon which I 
perceived a sensible glow; but my breath seemed to make it 
bound away again to a considerable distance. 
It appears probable that the Ignis Fatuus is simply a lumi¬ 
nous air, or phosphoric light, arising from the oily particles of 
decomposed aquatic plants, floating on the surface of the 
drains, and, that it is so feeble as only to be visible on the 
darkest and dampest nights; or from the gas of the many 
resinous pine trees which once grew there, and whose remains 
still lie buried in the peat. Several kinds of decayed wood 
acquire this phosphorescent appearance, especially if they are 
buried in wet situations. Portions of such matter in the dark, 
appear like a mass of pale flame. 
I well remember a story of a lad in the Fens, who was 
sent to milk the cows: as he was returning, he saw “ Will 
o’ the Wisp,” as it is commonly called, which he took for some 
supernatural face, staring at him. He was so alarmed that 
he laid himself down with his face to the ground, where he 
remained for some time. At last, venturing to look up, and 
finding the dreaded form had disappeared, he ran home, leaving 
his milk pails behind him. 
I have only once heard of this light settling fixedly on any 
object. The Rector of Coveney was driving home one dark 
rainy night from Ely, when he saw a light on the other side of 
