WATERSPOUTS are frequent in the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea. They generally form a double cone. The upper portion with its apex downwards consists of a dense cloud, while the lower cone, the apex of which is pointed to the heavens, consists of water, which is thus sometimes raised to a height of several hundred feet. Waterspouts seldom last longer than half an hour. Their course and movements are irregular. They are more frequent near the coasts than in the high seas ; the wind often prevents the formation of waterspouts. In their stead the windspout shoots up like an arrow, and the sea seems to try in vain to keep it back. The sea, lashed into fury, marks with foam the path along which the conflict rages, and roars with the noise of its waterspouts, and woe to the rash mariner who ventures therein ! The height of the spouts is usually somewhat less than 200 yards, and their diameter not more than 2,0 feet, yet they aro often taller and thicker. 1Vhen the opportunity of correctly pleasuring them has been favourable, however, as it generally is when they pass between islands of the Eastern Archipelago, so that the distance of their bases coudd be accurately determined, they have never been found higher than 700 yards, nor thicker than 50 yards. In October, in the Archipelago of Rio,
they travel from north-west to south-east. They seldom last longer than five niinutes, generally they are dissipated in less time. As they are going away, the bulbous tube, which is as palpable aa that of a thermometer, becomes broader at the base, and little clouds, like steam from the pipe of a locornotive, are continually thrown off from the circumference of the spout, and gradually the water is released, and the clouds whence the spout came again close its mouth. There never occur maay waterspouts in the Archipelago of Bioun Lingen except during the changing of the monsoon, when almost daily one or more occur. The airspouts near the equator always appear to be more dangerous than the waterspouts. Mr. Jansen says he has seen waterspouts go up out of the water upon tho shore, where they overthrew strong isolated frame homes.