1go1-1902.] Zhe Folk-Lore of Natural History. 341 
ruary appears to be one of the most important months as 
regards weather predictions, as it seems to have some mys- 
terious influence on the weather that is to follow. Yet 
throughout the country generally good weather in February is 
regarded as an unfavourable symptom of what is to come. 
“ A’ the months o’ the year 
Curse a fair Februar’.” 
Also— 
“ February fill the dyke, 
Be it black or be it white: 
If it be white, the better to like.” 
“If Candlemas be dry and fair, 
The half of the winter’s to come and mair ; 
If Candlemas be wet and foul, 
The half o’ the winter’s gane at Yule.” 
When the new moon is in such a part of the ecliptic 
as to appear turned much over on her back, wet weather is 
expected. 
“The bonny moon is on her back— 
Mend your shoon and sort your thack.” 
“ About the moon there is a brugh— 
The weather will be cauld and rough.” 
The halo seen round the moon, being a consequence of the 
humidity of the atmosphere, may well forebode wet weather. 
The hills, by their attracting the clouds and precipitating 
rain, serve as natural barometers all over Scotland. Thus in 
Roxburghshire they say— 
“When Rubislaw puts on his cowl, 
The Dunion on his hood, 
Then a’ the wives of Teviotside 
Ken there will be a flood.” 
It is a popular belief that when the oak comes into leaf 
before the ash there will be fine weather and an abundant 
crop. I remember in my school days there was a tradition 
that if, when the rainbow was seen in the sky, you were to go 
to the spot where the rainbow rested on the earth and dig 
down, you would find a pot of gold. The time when that rain- 
bow appears is supposed to aid in foretelling the weather :— 
“ A rainbow at night is the shepherd’s delight : 
A rainbow in the morning is the shepherd’s warning.” 
