CYCLONES. ii 



houses and outbuildings, and palings blown down 

 in every direction ; but luckily such visitations 

 are rare. One which occurred lately on a Good 

 Friday was accompanied by a violent thunder- 

 storm and deluging rain which inundated every 

 house in the place, the water blowing up and 

 under the widest verandahs in a most curious 

 manner. My cottage, which is always dry 

 during the rains, was literally running with 

 water, and I had the greatest trouble to keep 

 my collection of insects safe. My anxiety about 

 that, however, luckily diverted the fear I could 

 not help feeling, for every minute I expected 

 the house to go, and the force of the wind 

 rendered it quite impossible to open the doors 

 and go outside. My pet dog and cat wt-re 

 thoroughly frightened, and after crying pite- 

 ously for some time, crouched down close to- 

 gether and trembled in silence, the cat nestling 

 almost under the big dog. This storm was 

 followed by one of the loveliest sunsets I have 

 ever seen. 



Sudden and unexpected winds in whirlwind 



