180 BESTS ART OF ANGLING. 



fourth day, it prognosticates a troubled air for 

 the whole month. 



If the moon, either at her first appearance, or 

 within a few days after, has her lower horn ob- 

 scured or dusky, or anyways sullied, it denotes 

 foul weather before the full ; but if she be dis- 

 coloured in the middle, storms are to be ex- 

 pected about the full, or about the wane,, if her 

 upper born is affected in like manner. 



When the moon, on her fourth day, appears 

 fine and spotless, her horns unblunted, and nei- 

 ther flat nor quite erect, but betwixt both, it 

 promises fair weather for the greatest part of 

 the month. 



An erect moon is generally threatening and 

 unfavourable, but particularly denotes wind ; 

 though if she appear with short and blunted 

 horns, rain is rather expected. 



Most of the foreijoinff rules are taken from 

 the following beautiful passage of Virgil : 



Observe the daily circle of the sun, 



And the short year of each revolving moon : 



By them thou shalt foresee the following day ; 



JNor shalt a starry night thy hopes betray. 



When first the moon appears, if then she shrouds 



lier silver crescent, tipp'd with sable clouds: 



Concludes she bodes a tempest on the main, 



And brews for fields impetuous floods of rain. 



Or if her face with fiery flushmgs glow, 



Expect the rattling winds aloft to blow^ 



But four nights old (for that's the surest sign) 



With sharpen'd horns, if glorious then she shine, 



Kext day, not only that but all the moon, 



'Till her revolvmg race be n tjoll y run, 



Are void of tempests both by sea and land. 

 ******** 



Above the rest, the sun, who never lie^, 

 Foretels the change or weather in the skies; 

 For if he rise unwilling to his ract, 

 Clouds on his brow and spots upon his face; 



