Chap. 78.] PROGNOSTICS DERIVED FROM THE SUN. ll/ 



and lies on the western side next to the north. By the Greeks 

 it is called Argestes, and is one of the very coldest of the winds, 

 which, in fact, is the case with all the winds that hlow from the 

 north ; this wind, too, brings hailstorms with it, for which 

 reason it is necessary to be on our guard against it no less than 

 the north. If Volturnus begins to blow from a clear quarter 

 of the heavens, it will not last till night ; but if it is Subso- 

 lanus, it will prevail for the greater part of the night. What- 

 ever the wind that may happen to be blowing, if it is accom- 

 panied by heat, it will be sure to last for several days. The 

 earth announces the approach of Aquilo, by drying on a sudden, 

 while on the approach of Auster, the surface becomes nioisl 

 without any apparent cause. 



CHAP. 78. (35.) PROGNOSTICS DERIVED FROM THE SUN. 



Having now explained the theory of the winds, it seems to 

 me the best plan, in order to avoid any repetition, to pass on to 

 the other signs and prognostics that are indicative of a change 

 of weather. I find, too, that this is a kind of knowledge that 

 greatly interested Virgil, 84 for he mentions the fact, that during 

 the harvest even, he has often seen the winds engage in a 

 combat that was absolutely ruinous to the improvident agri- 

 culturist. There is a tradition, too, to the effect that Demo- 

 critus, already mentioned, when his brother Damasus was get- 

 ting in his harvest in extremely hot weather, entreated him to 

 leave the rest of the crop, and house with all haste that which 

 had been cut ; and it was only within a very few hours that 

 his prediction was verified by a most violent storm. On the 

 other hand, it is particularl} r recommended never to plant reeds 

 except when rain is impending, and only to sow corn just be- 

 fore a shower ; we shall therefore briefly touch upon the prog- 

 nostics of this description, making enquiry more particularly 

 into those among them that have been found the most useful. 



In the first place, then, we will consider those prognostics 

 of the weather which are derived from the sun. 65 If the sun is 

 bright at its rising, and not burning hot, it is indicative of fine 



84 Georg. i. 313, et seq. 



" Sape ego, quum flavis messorem induceret arvis 

 Agricola, et tragili jam stringeret hordea culmo, 

 Orania ventorum concurrere proelia vidi." 



85 Sec the Treatise of Theophrastus on the Prognostics of the Weather. 



