118 PLINr's NATURAL iHSTOilT. [Book XVIII. 



-weather, but if pale, it announces wintry weather accompanied 

 with liail. If the sun is bright and clear when it sets, and 

 if it rises Avith a similar appearance, the more assured of fine 

 weather may we feel ourselves. If it is hidden in clouds at 

 its rising, it is indicative of rain, and of wind, when the clouds 

 are of a reddish colour just before sunrise ; if black clouds are 

 intermingled with the red ones, they betoken rain as well. 

 When the sun's rays at its rising or setting appear to unite, 

 rainy weather may be looked for. When the clouds are red at 

 sunset, they give promise ^^ of a fine day on the morrow ; but 

 if, at the sun's rising, the clouds are dispersed in various quar- 

 ters, some to the south, and some to the north-east, even though 

 the heavens in the vicinity of the sun may be bright, they are 

 significant of rain and wind. If at the sun's rising or set- 

 ting, its rays appear contracted, they announce tlie approach of 

 a shower. If it rains at sunset, or if the sun's rays attract the 

 clouds towards them, it is portentous of stormy weather on the 

 following day. When the sun, at its rising, does not emit 

 vivid rays, although there are no clouds surrounding it, rain 

 may be expected. If before sunrise the clouds collect into 

 dense masses, they are portentous of a violent storm ; but if 

 t.iiey are repelled from the east and travel westward, they in- 

 dicate fine weather. When clouds are seen surrounding the 

 face of the sun, the less the light they leave, tiie more violent 

 tiie tempest will be : but if they form a double circle round 

 the sun, the storm will be a dreadful one. If this takes place 

 at sunrise or sunset, and the clouds assume a red hue, the ap- 

 proach of a most violent storm is announced : and if the clouds 

 liang over the face of the sun without surrounding it, they 

 presage wind from tlie (quarter from which they are drifting, 

 and rain as well, if they come from the south. 



If, at its rising, the sun is surrounded with a circle, wind 

 may be looked for in the quarter in which the circle breaks ; 

 but if it disappears equally throughout, it is indicative of fine 

 weather. If the sun at its rising throws out its rays afar 

 through the clouds, and the middle of its disk is clear, there 

 will be rain ; and if its rays are seen before it rises, both rain 

 and wind as well. If a white circle is seen round the sun at 

 its setting, there will be a slight storm in the night ; but if there 



"^ This, Fee observes, isconfiniied by experience. Aratus, as translated 

 by Avienus, states to a similar effect. 



