The Stokes flow due to a rotlet in a circle is determined. The solutio
n shows that for a certain position of the rotlet, the how has a secon
d stagnation point symmetrically placed inside the circle. Thus, a ''b
linking rotlet'' model can be constructed in which the rotlet that is
''off'' does not disturb the how. This model seems preferable to the '
'blinking vortex'' flow when discussing chaotic advection by a Stokes
how, and is useful for comparisons with recent experimental and comput
ational investigations of this phenomenon in a cylindrical tank with t
wo rotating cylinders. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.