AND OTHER WATER WAVES 283 



Such a surge is well shown in cinematograph 

 views of the Rapids. The vertical rise and fall 

 of this surge upon the shore was about 2 feet. It 

 is easy to realise that it is connected with the sway 

 and heave of the standing waves, and recollecting 

 what I had seen from above, I naturally connected 

 it with the travelling waves which come from near 

 the opposite shore. 



My feeling that the standing waves were 

 heaving and swaying too much for permanence 

 was presently justified. After watching for a time 

 the seething and roaring waters, the great billow 

 before me suddenly leaped into the air, scat- 

 tering its waters in showers of spray, which fell 

 to leeward upon the river with a " swish," whilst 

 a much diminished mound was seen where the ex- 

 plosion occurred. It was, however, only a matter 

 of seconds for the standing wave to grow again 

 to its normal dimensions. I have called this phe- 

 nomenon the " leaping wave." Doubtless it may 

 be seen in many places on Niagara, and in other 

 such tumultuous waters, but the best place, as far 

 as I know, for observing the phenomenon is at 

 the Whirlpool Rapids Station. Presumably, the 

 spot for the station was selected on account of its 

 being opposite the place of greatest turbulence. 



I was, fortunately, able by actual observation to 



