Professor (Ersted on Water-Spouts, 59 



tre of that place in which the water-spout is for the moment ; 

 whence it follows, that, round the anterior half of the latter, 

 streams of air must occur in which the east is the prevalent 

 direction, while the western direction is the predominant one 

 in the ciu-rents round the posterior half. In some places, 

 where it appeared that the water-spout had receded for some 

 time, and had again descended, it was ascertained, that the 

 overturned trees were tm-ned with their summits to a com- 

 mon centre. Many circumstances also demonstrated to the 

 observers that a rarefaction of the au- in the interior of the 

 water-spout, and one of great extent, had occurred. Not 

 only were roofs and the upper coverings of houses removed, 

 but even floors were broken up ; a phenomenon not easily ex- 

 plained, unless we assume that the pressure of the air ft-om 

 ^vithout had become very rapidly and greatly diminished, so 

 that the expansive force of the inclosed air must have ac- 

 quired a vei'y considerable preponderance. Many other ef- 

 fects of this same water-spout confirm this belief Walls and 

 windows were often thrown or broken outwards. In one 

 house which had suffered much from the water-spout, a bed- 

 cover was pressed into a crack in the wall, and remained as 

 firmly fixed as though it had been intentionally thrust into 

 it ; a pocket handkerchief likewise was found in a crack of 

 the opposite wall. Those objects which had been transported 

 by the water-spout, were conveyed to the north side, and to 

 a greater or less distance, according to their greater or less 

 weight. 



Sound and Smell of IFater- Spouts. — Water-spouts are often 

 accompanied by a violent noise, which, for the most part, has 

 been compared to the sound of many heavily laden waggons 

 moving over a stone pavement, or to the breaking of the 

 waves of an agitated sea against the coast ; but, by some, has 

 been said to resemble the roar of a gi'eat waterfall. Besides 

 these great noises, a whistling or piping sound has not unfre- 

 quently been heard. 



Water-spouts often leave behind a sulphurous smell, and 

 there are examples of a disagreeable smell remaining along 

 the whole tract traversed by them. One individual, however, 

 who became involved in a water-spout, perceived no odour. 



