80 PLrtTT's NATURAL HISTOET. [Book II. CHAP. 50. — TOENADOES ; BLASTING WINDS ; WHIELWINDS^ AND OTHEE WONDEEFUL KINDS OF TEMPESTS. But if it burst from the cavity of a cloud which is more depressed, but less capacious than what produces a squaU, and is accompanied by noise, it is called a whirlwind, and throws down everything which is near it. The same, when it is more burning and rages with greater heat, is called a blasting wind^, scorching and, at the same time, throwing down everything with which it comes in contact. (49.) Ty- phon never comes from the north, nor have we Ecnephias when it snows, or when there is snow on the ground. K it breaks the clouds, and, at the same time, catches fire or burns, but not until it has left the cloud, it forms a thunder- bolt. It differs from Prester as flame does from fire ; the former is difiiised in a gust, the latter is condensed with a violent impulse^. The whirlwind, when it rebounds, diflers from the tornado in the same manner as a loud noise does from a dash. The squall differs from both of them in its extent, the clouds being more properly rent asimder than broken into pieces. A black cloud is formed, resembling a great animal, an appearance much dreaded by sailors. It is also called a pillar, when the moisture is so condensed and rigid as to be able to support itself. It is a cloud of the same kind, which, when drawn into a tube, sucks up the water^. CHAP. 51. (50.) — OE THUNDEE^ ; IN WHAT COTJNTEIES IT DOES NOT FALL, AND FOE WHAT EEASON. Thunder is rare both in winter and in summer^, but from ^ The terms here employed are respectively " tm-bines," " presteres," and " vortices." 2 7rpr](TTr]p^ a TrpriOio, incendo. Seneca calls it "igneus turbo;" Nat, Qusest. V. 13. p. 762. See also Lucretius, vi. 423. 3 Plutarch.
- A water-spout. We have a description of this phaenomenon in Lu-
cretius, vi. 425 et seq. ^ " fulmen." ^ This has been pointed out by Alexandre, Lemaire, i. 346, as one of the statements made by our author, which, in consequence of his following the Greek writers, apphes rather to their climate than to that of Italy. The reader may form a judgement of the correctness of this remai'k by comparing the account given by Aristotle and by Seneca ; the former in Meteor, iii. 1. p. 573, 574, the latter in Nat. Qusest. ii. 32 et seq.
