EXTRACTS FROM M. PELTIER. 359 



The point of ground with which the descending cloud 

 put itself in communication, made a part of a field to the 

 west of the avenue of junipers, very near a grove of Swiss 

 poplars. The trees which bordered this avenue were con- 

 sequently to the east of the spout, which advanced from the 

 south to the north. On the west side of these trees, that is 

 to say, on the side next the passage of the spout, all the 

 leaves were dried and scorched on their borders, while the 

 leaves of the opposite side towards the east, had preserved 

 their freshness and their verdure. All these trees were 

 inclined to the west, a little north; instead of being straight, 

 they were bent towards the place of the passage of the 

 spout. 



* Thus those trees affected by the influence of the spout, 

 and not directly in it, had all the leaves withered, like the 

 leaves which have been used in powerful electrical dis- 

 charges ; but preserved all their leaves untouched on the side 

 where there could not be any radiations. We know not, 

 says Mr. Peltier, how the most fertile imagination could 

 refer this fact to the influence of a whirlwind, and deny its 

 connexion with electric radiation, and it is impossible, not 

 to recognise, in the little cloud approaching the shepherd, 

 and then flying, an effect of statical electricity, accompanied 

 by radiation. 



Mr. Dutour, who made his observations from the terrace 

 on the top of his house, saw the formation of the spout at a 

 distance, and assigned to it the same part of the field ; but 

 he saw what the shepherd could not see, as he was blinded 

 by the cloud of dust, in the midst of which he was the 

 extremity of the cone, according to his expression, a red 

 cap of fire, which appeared to be eight metres from the 

 earth. 



The spout increased very soon in intensity, deviated to- 

 wards the north east, and came near to the Croix du 

 Freche. 



