The unusual sightings, lights and sound that are reported in page 19 remind me of the Blue Jets an d Red Sprites that are seen usually in high altitudes by jet pilots which were first photographed about ten years ago, but there were rumours of their existence since the late 19th century. These are associated with thunderstorms and appear as discharge instances in the low levels of the ionosphere.
Check this site for more info, and this for a short history of the sightings and a guide on how to see them from the ground.
Incidentally, sprites in mythology are elf-like creatures (and a variety of sprites is called ‘elves’) Could this explain the ‘elfin appearance’ of Penny Black in the previous page 18?
Against the Day Weblog 