The appearance of the Spectre of the Broken, an aërial figure which is sometimes seen amongst the Hartz mountains of Hanover, may be accounted for in the same manner. The following is an interesting account of this phenomenon by M. Hane:--"Having ascended the Broken Mountain," says he, "for the thirtieth time, I was at length so fortunate as to have the pleasure of seeing this phenomenon. The sun rose about four o'clock, and the atmosphere being quite serene towards the east, its rays could pass without any obstruction over the Heinrichshöhe mountain. In the south-west, however, towards the mountain Achtermannshöhe, a brisk west wind carried before it thin transparent vapours. About a quarter-past four I looked round, to see whether the atmosphere would permit me to have a free prospect to the south-west, when I observed, at a very great distance towards the Achtermannshöhe, a human figure of a monstrous size! A violent gust of wind having almost carried away my hat, I clapped my hand to it: and in moving my arm towards my head, the colossal figure did the same. "The pleasure which I felt at this discovery can hardly be described; for I had already walked many a weary step in the hope of seeing this shadowy image, without being able to gratify my curiosity. I immediately made another movement, by bending my body, and the colossal figure before me repeated it. I was desirous of doing the same thing once more, but my colossus had vanished. I remained in the same position, waiting to see whether it would return; and in a few minutes it again made its appearance on the Achtermannshöhe. I then called the landlord of the neighbouring inn, and having both taken the position which I had taken alone, we looked towards the Achtermannshöhe, but did not perceive anything. We had not, however, stood long, when two such colossal figures were formed over the above eminence, which repeated their compliments, by bending their bodies as we did, after which they vanished. We retained our position, kept our eyes fixed on the spot, and in a little time the two figures again stood before us, and were joined by a third," that of a traveller who then came up and joined the party. "Every movement made by us these figures imitated; but with this difference, that the phenomenon was sometimes weak and faint, sometimes strong and well defined."[14] [6] From Hutchinson's _History of Cumberland_, and Rev. C. C. Clarke's _One Hundred Wonders of the World_. [7] _Lonsdale Magazine_, vol. ii. p. 313. [8] _Coniston Hall_, by Rev. W. GRESLEY, M.A., p. 135. [9] Hutchinson's _History of Cumberland_, p. 420, vol. i. [10] _Westmoreland and Cumberland Illustrated_, p. 217. [11] _Lonsdale Magazine_, vol. ii. p. 425. [12] Clarke's _Wonders of the World_. [13] Wilkinson's _Tours to the British Mountains_, pp. 64, 65. [14] Clarke's _Wonders of the World_, pp. 434, 435. RUSTIC POETS OF THE LAKE DISTRICT. JOHN OLDLAND AND JAMIE MUCKELT.