THE LEVELLING POWER OF RAIN. 387 



overlook when contemplating the silent and seemingly quiet 

 processes of nature such as the formation of the rain-cloud 

 or the precipitation of rain the tremendous energy of the 

 forces really causing these processes. " I have seen," says 

 Professor Tyndall, " the wild stone-avalanches of the Alps, 

 which smoke and thunder down the declivities with a 

 vehemence almost sufficient to stun the observer. I have 

 also seen snow-flakes descending so softly as not to hurt the 

 fragile spangles of which they were composed ; yet to pro- 

 duce from aqueous vapour a quantity which a child could 

 carry of that tender material demands an exertion of energy 

 competent to gather up the shattered blocks of the largest 

 stone-avalanche I have ever seen, and pitch them to twice 

 the height from which they fell'' 



