SIGNS FROM THE CLOUDS. UlJ 



themsehes into air; but it is otherwise when 

 they are collected out of it. 



In mibem cogiier aer. Virgil. 



Ai>;iinst heavv rain, everv cloud rises bi^r^er 

 than tlic tormer, an(J all the clouds are in a i^row- 

 ini^- state. 



This is in(;st rc:narkable on tiie approach of a 

 thunderstorm, afier the vapours have been co- 

 piously elevated, suspended in the sky by the 

 heat, and are highly charged with eiectrical (ire; 

 small fragments of flying clouds increase and 

 assemble together, till in a short space of time 

 thev cover tlie sky. 



Wiicn the clouds are formed likefloecc', deep, 

 and dense toward the middle, and very white at 

 th.e edges, with the sky very bright and blue 

 about ihem, they are of a frosiy coldness, and 

 will soon fall either in hail, snow, or in iiasty 

 showers of rain. 



If clouds are seen to breed liigh in the air, in 

 thin white tjains, like locks of wool, oi the tails 

 of horses, they shew that the vapour as it is col- 

 1^'cted, is irregularly spread and scattered by 

 contrary winds above; the consequence of wliicli 

 will soon be a wind below, and probably a rain 

 with it. 



If the clouds, as they C(jme forward, seem to 

 diverge from a point in tlie horizon, a wind may 

 be expected from that cpiartcr or the opposite. 



When a general cloudiness covers the sky 

 above, and tliere are small black frjvgnients of 

 clouds, like smoke, flying undern'.ath, which 

 some call messengers, others Noah's Ark, be- 

 cause they sail over the other clouds, like tlie 

 ark upon the waters, rain is not far otl^ and it 

 ^viil probably be lasting. 



