80 
plint's natijbal histoet 
[Book IL 
CHAP. 50. — TOBIfADOES ; ELASTIT^a WIKDS ; WHIBLWINDS^ 
AKD OTHEB WOKDEEFUL KINDS OF TEMPESTS. 
But if it burst from the cavity of a cloud whicli is more 
depressed, but less capacious than what produces a squall, 
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. If 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 difiused in a gust, the latter is condensed with a 
violent impulse^. The whirlwind, when it rebounds, differs 
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 asunder 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.) — OP THUNDER^ ; IIS" WHAT COUIS'TEIES IT 
DOES NOT PALL, AND PGR WHAT BEASON. 
Thunder is rare both in winter and in summer^, but from 
1 The terms here employed are respectively " tm-bines," " presteres," 
and " vortices." 
2 TTprjarrfpy a TrprjOu), incendo. Seneca calls it "igneus turbo Nat. 
Qusest. V. 13. p. 762. See also Lucretius, vi. 423. ^ Plutarch. 
^ A water-spout. We have a description of this phsenomenon 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 Grreek writers, apphes rather to their climate than to that of Italy. 
The reader may form a judgement of the correctness of this remark by' 
comparing the account given by Aristotle and by Seneca ; the former ia 
Meteor, iii. 1. p. 573, 574, the latter in Nat. Qusest. ii. 32 et seq. 
