If a jar be discharged with a rod which has no electric handle, the hand which holds the rod, on making the discharge, frequently feels something similar to a shock, especially when the charge is considerable.—This shock, or lateral explosion, as it has been called, may be rendered visible in the following manner.—Connect a chain with the outside coating of a charged jar—then discharge the jar through another circuit; for instance, a discharging rod—The chain which is connected with the outside coating, but which forms no part of the circuit, will appear lucid in the dark; that is, sparks will be seen at every link. This chain will also appear lucid, if it be only put close to the jar, without touching it; and on making the discharge a spark will be seen between the coating and the end of the chain. This luminous appearance is what has been denominated the _Lateral explosion_. _To represent the Constellations._ Provide yourself with a piece of paste-board, of the size you intend the figure of the constellation, (four or five inches square will be found convenient) and cover one side with tin-foil or silvered paper. Let needles, or any other small metallic points, project from the other side of the paste-board, from the places where you intend stars to appear, taking care to form a communication between each of the points, or needles, and the tin-foil on the other side. If the instrument thus prepared be fixed upon the prime-conductor, negatively electrified, all the points will be illuminated at once.—The experiment may be performed with the prime-conductor positively electrified; but in this case, the light at the points, being in the shape of a divergent cone, does not appear so proper to represent stars, as the round globular lights, which are characteristic of points negatively electrified.—It is scarcely necessary to remark that this experiment should be performed in a darkened room. _The Electrical Snake._ Cut a circular piece of silvered paper into a spiral form. The outer end must be shaped like a serpent’s head, with the mouth open and the tongue protruded. Then provide an upright shaft of wood or metal, terminating upward in a point, and having the lower extremity fastened in a foot or bottom-board. The snake, being put spirally round the shaft, with its tail on the point, and then placed under a metallic point suspended from the prime-conductor, will turn round, and in a darkened room will appear to spit fire. _The luminous Shower._ Electrify a common tumbler, by passing a chain, communicating with the prime-conductor, over its inner surface. Place a small heap of steel or brass-filings on an uninsulated conductor, and invert the electrified tumbler over it: the filings will be attracted up the sides of the tumbler, and then thrown off. This, at night, forms a very beautiful experiment, as the filings become luminous, and appear like a shower of fire.