154 SALMONIA. 



generally observed a coppery or yellow sun- 

 set to foretel rain; but, as an indication 

 of wet weather approaching, nothing is more 

 certain than a halo round the moon, which 

 is produced by the precipitated water ; and 

 the larger the circle, the nearer the clouds, 

 and consequently the more ready to fall. 



Hal. — I have often observed that the old 

 proverb is correct — 



A rainbow in the morning is the shepherd's warning : 

 A rainbow at night is the shepherd's delight. 



Can you explain this omen ? 



Phys. — A rainbow can only occur when 

 the clouds containing, or depositing, the rain 

 are opposite tc the sun, — and in the evening 

 the rainbow is in the east, and in the morn- 

 ing in the west ; and as our heavy rains, in 

 this climate, are usually brought by the 

 westerly wind, a rainbow in the west indi- 

 cates that the bad weather is on the road, 

 by the wind, to us ; whereas the rainbow in 

 the east proves, that the rain in these clouds 

 is passing from us. 



Poiet.— I have often observed, that when 

 the swallows fly high, fine weather is to be 



