VOYAGE OUTWARD. 23 



Geoiis. Species. 



Nubes. Cumulus Small dense cloud, increasing upwards, base hori- 

 zontal. 



Cirrostratus,. , . The common loose vapoury cloud, generally of a 



brownish colour. In profile, it represents the 

 figure of a fish ; sometimes a dark streak, and 

 lying parallel to the horizon j sometimes descend- 

 ing very dark at a sharp or acute angle. It is the 

 most variable of all clouds, and is usually inter- 

 mediate between the others. 



Cirrocumulus . . Next in height to cirrus, generally white, in round, ir- 



regular, or diamond patches, or representing small 

 waves ; the last form usually precedes a high wind. 



Cumulostratus . . The previous form of nimbus, called by seamen 



the " land cloud," being at a distance like rocks 

 and mountains, having, according to its position 

 with the sun, round and rugged snowy tops, dark 

 body, base of the same or deep-bluish black, hori- 

 zontal and ragged, or cirrose; moves often against 

 the wind.* 



— - Nimbus Tlie cumulostratus discharging rain, hail, lightning, 



&c. 



Having thus briefly enumerated the diflerent species of 

 clouds, a few observations on their most obvious uses may not 

 be out of place. The cirrus, ascending, assumes some modifi- 

 cation of cirrostratus ; and owing to some principles, pro- 

 bably communicated from its auxiliary, the latter puts on 

 such a variety of colours as it generally presents. The 

 rainbow, and also many other luminous phenomena, appear 

 in this medium. Cirrostratus is the store from which the 



* " Noctem hiememque ferens." 



