362 ' Notice of a Water- Spout. 



ing the structure of the coral. As in conchology, the calcareous 

 secretions sometimes may entirely mislead. 



The Astrcea calicularis, and other species figured by Quoy 

 and Gaymard, in the Voyage of the Astrolabe, are closely like 

 Astrseas in their corals. Yet the polyps are very prominent above 

 the coral when expanded, each very much projecting, and attach- 

 ed to the adjoining only at base. They are like the Gonioporse in 

 this respect. An Astraea increases by a lateral summit growth 

 and budding, the summit gradually extending, and at the same 

 time forming young polyps as buds. When the polyps are con- 

 nected only at base, as in the A. calicularis, the budding i? lat- 

 eral from near the base and not terminal, and the species are there- 

 fore excluded by this characteristic from the Astraea family, and 

 most strikingly from the genus Astraea. From an examination 

 of a recent coral on the coast, very near the Astraea Marylandica of 

 Conrad, I have been led to refer the whole to a group character- 

 ized by exsert polyps. The correctness of this reference cannot 

 be fully established until the animals of the recent species are 

 known ; and I have waited for an opportunity to make the exam- 

 ination before describing it. 



In this species, and also in specimens of A. Marylandica, ex- 

 amined by the writer, the polyps do not appear to bud by sub- 

 divisions. 



The relation of the species designated by Mr. Lonsdale Colum- 

 naria (?) sexradiata, to the genus Columnaria, is only in mode 

 of growth and not in structure. 



Art,. XXXII.— Notice of a Water- Spout ; by Elias Loomis. 



On Friday morning, Aug. 20th, 1847, it was my good fortune to 

 witness a water-spout in unusual perfection. I left Erie, Penn., 

 in a steamboat for Cleveland, Ohio, about seven o'clock, with 



The sky was for the 



particular one dark mass of clouds arose in the west affording some 

 indications of a shower. These clouds passed nearly over our 

 boat, but brought us no rain. As they moved off to the east about 

 half past eight, an imperfect water-spout was seen, in the form 

 of a funnel-shaped cloud, suspended from the base of the black 



rrm<5«sl fllmarlir mnntiAn^/1 T*. 1 _ l,l««/»n tr\ ATI e«£~ 



mass already mentioned. 



l_ . * i m 



xiicxm aueciuy mentioned, it bore some resemblance w «■ - 

 phant's trunk, and curved downward towards the south. It a£ 

 peared dangling in the air, and terminated at a distance from t» 

 water about equal to the length of the trunk. No particular agi- 

 tation of the water was noticed beneath it. In a few minutes i 



disappe 



