370 Notes upon some remarkable Waterspouts. [ISTo. 4, 



in the centre, plainly showing it to be a solid cylinder ; as it neared 

 the earth, the lower half of this elegant column commenced to gyrate 

 rapidly, the lower end oscillating violently to the right and to the 

 left ; this latter movement I imagine to be a mere optical illusion, 

 caused by the lower end of the column revolving in a circle of large 

 diameter ; as the column neared the earth it expanded and contracted 

 in an agitated and rapid manner about the centre into cloud-like 

 protuberances which partook at the same time of the motion of the 

 revolving column. 



Upon arriving nearer the earth, the end of the column parted into 

 two slender columns about 150 feet each in length, and in this con- 

 dition reached the ground. 



The shape of the column was now completely and instantaneously 

 altered ; for the whole cumulus burst and was seen pouring down to 

 the earth, not as a shower of rain but as a heavy mass of water, 

 resembling a waterfall more than a shower of rain, that completely 

 exhausted and brought the whole cloud to the ground in a few 

 seconds of time. 



The estimated height of the cumulus from its summit to its base 

 was 5000 feet, and 3,000 feet in length, the whole of which mass of 

 vapour was precipitated tumultuously and instantaneously to the 

 ground in the shape of water. 



The period of duration of the column from its first forming to its 

 bursting, occupied about 25 seconds, and ' offered a very grand and 

 imposing sight. 



The mass of water so suddenly precipitated upon a large grassy 

 plain, for the column burst upon the artillery practice ground, was 

 simply to put half a square mile of country under water for about 

 half a foot deep. This water took 14 days to drain off by the usual 

 drainage courses of the country. 



That the waterspout was accompanied by a noise I can hardly 

 doubt, judging from the alarm exhibited by the cattle in its neigh- 

 bourhood who fled in all directions as it descended. No noise was 

 however heard from my position 1^ mile distant. 



By the assistance of a theodolite, a measured base, and observed 

 marks upon the walls of my house, I was enabled to accertain that 

 the height of the waterspout from its junction with the clouds to its 



