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NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
METEOROLOGY.
Curious Effect of a Lightning Stroke.—At the meeting
of the Royal Meteorological Society, on June 15th, the Rev. C.
F. Box gave an account of some curious "Effects of a Lightning
Stroke at Earl's Fee, Bowers Gifford, Essex, April 13th, 1904."
A thunderstorm occurred during the early morning hours, and
about 3 a.m. there was a blinding flash, lighting up the whole
neighbourhood for miles around, followed immediately by a
crashing explosion. One person stated that he saw what
appeared to be a cylinder, and another person a ball of fire,
descend and then explode, "casting darts" in all directions. On
careful examination in daylight, it was found that in an oatfield,
which had recently been dredged, there were three distinct sets 
of holes, ranging from nine inches down to about one inch in
diameter. The holes, which were circular, diminished in size as
they went downwards, and remained so on to the perfected
rounded ends at the bottom. Upon digging sectionally into the
soil, which is stiff yellow clay, it was found that the holes were
"as clean cut as though bored with an auger."
Water-Spout at Brightlingsea.—"On Wednesday morn-
ing, July 27th, about 10.45, during the early part of a rather
severe thunderstorm, a waterspout was seen to form in a south-
easterly direction from Brightlingsea, over towards 'B'
Martello Tower. It hung for from 10 to 15 minutes on the
fringe of a very ominous-looking thunder-cloud, and then was
seen to assume a feathery spiral form, and move about very
violently in various directions. It then lowered its trunk-like
end over St. Osyth Channel, and commenced to disperse itself
just above 'The Pincushion.' It travelled over Cindery
Island, and its great bulk was deposited in the middle of
Brightlingsea Creek, near Underwood's Hard, opposite 'The
Folly.' Its roar was heard a very long distance. It was believed
to be from 30ft. to 40ft. through it, and it cast up its foam and
spray at least 40ft. high. It was certainly a magnificent sight.
Fortunately it was near high tide when it fell or the damage which
would have been done to the oysters and oyster grounds must
have been very serious. It is about 30 years since we observed
a water-spout in this vicinity, and on that occasion it burst over
what is known as 'Barker's Farm,' making a hole in a field big
enough to contain a waggon and four horses."—Essex County
Standard, July 30th, 1904.