The frequency distribution by publication date of ball lightning reports and papers from 1651 to 1978 does not reflect a positive correlation with the intensity of solar activity nor indicate a cyclic characteristic. It is recognized that skewing of the distribution may have occurred because of human factors, such as publication bias, possible quasi-perodic public interest, misinterpretation and misidentification of the actual event, and hesitancy of reporting by the observer. A natural dependence is not apparent.