In a dry air the charge in the jar can be retained for some time, the communication between the two electric fluids being very slow through the medium of air. It is otherwise when there is much moisture in the air, for water is a good conductor. For this reason, if you let the moisture from your breath come upon the jar between the outside coating and the rod, the jar will be discharged soon, though imperceptibly, the moisture making a medium of communication between the inner and outer electricities. [Illustration: Fig. 274.] 386. =The Electrical Sportsman.=--In this contrivance, Fig. 274, the discharge of the Leyden jar is very prettily exhibited. The jar, _c_, has a rod with two branches. On the end of one of these, B, are suspended pith balls cut in the shape of birds. On the other is a knob by which the jar can receive its charge from the prime conductor. After it is charged it is placed on the stand with its knob, _b_, near the gun, _a_, of a metallic figure. The suspended birds, you observe, stand out from each other, because they are charged with the same fluid, positive electricity, and therefore are repellent. Now when the chain, _e_, which is connected with the outside of the jar, is made to touch the foot of the metallic image, the connection between the inside and outside of the jar is established. Of course there is an instantaneous flash between _a_ and _b_, and the birds, losing their electricity, fall, and hang as they did before the jar was charged. [Illustration: Fig. 275.] 387. =Electrical Battery.=--By combining together a number of jars, having the insides all connected together, as seen in Fig. 275, with metallic rods, and the outsides connected together in a similar manner, we have what is termed an electrical battery. By such an arrangement we can accumulate a large amount of electricity, which can be discharged in the same way essentially as in the case of the single jar.