)n a SEhirltoinb at f loxtoorth 



By Rev. 0. PICKARD-CAMBRIDGE, M.A., F.R.S., &c. 



GST of us, I suppose, have observed those curious 

 rotatory gusts of wind which in summer-time raise 

 the dust (and even sometimes the gravel) along the 

 roads in a spiral form ; sometimes raising the dust 

 high into the air, sometimes running a course of 

 only a few yards, at other times considerably more. 

 I have myself seen one of these traverse a hay field, 

 carrying the hay along in a spiral path and whirling 

 it onwards high in the air, depositing it, as the force 

 of the gust died away, in any place but where the unfortunate 

 owner desired, leaving also a Avell marked and cleared track of 

 some yards in width behind it. 



One of the most interesting, in some senses, of these 1 witnessed 

 in the month of June last, interesting on account of its small size 

 and perfect development, being a whirlwind in miniature. I was 

 standing on a gravel path close to my house ; the path was covered 

 with loose, light, sandy gravel, much mixed with minute particles 

 of dead leaves. A litttle rustling noise at my feet made me look 

 down, when, with the slightest possible sound, the sand and dead- 

 leaf fragments began to rise and move along the path in a spiral 

 form, rising to about two feet high, increasing in speed and width 

 for about two yards or so, then gradually decreasing both in speed 



