WEATHER-SIGHS.] 



METEOROLOGY. 



1177 



Indian-red tint, rain; a red sky in the morning, bad 

 weather, or much wind or rain ; but a grey sky, fine 

 weather ; a dawn high in the sky, wind ; if low, fair 

 weather ; soft or delicate-looking clouds indicate coming 

 fine weather ; hard-edged, oily-looking clouds, wind ; a 

 dark, gloomy, blue sky, wind ; a bright blue, fine 

 weather. The softer-looking the clouds, the less wind 

 may be expected ; the harder, more rolled, tufted or 

 ragged, the stronger the coming wind. Inky-looking 

 clouds foretel rain ; light scud clouds, driving across 

 heavy masses, foretel wind and rain ; but if alone, wind 

 only. High upper clouds, crossing the apparent face of 

 the sun, moon, or stars, in a different direction to that of 

 the lower clouds, or the wind felt below at the moment, 

 foretel a change of wind toward their direction ; 

 streaks, curls, wisps, <tc., of cloud, in a clear sky, 

 increasing into general cloudiness, indicate coming rain 

 or wind perhaps both. The higher and more distant 

 such clouds may be, the more gradual, but general and 

 lasting, will be the coming change. Fine weather is 

 usually accompanied with undefined clouds (if any), of 

 delicate, quiet tints or colours ; whilst hard, defined 

 clouds, with gaudy or unusual colours, foretel rain, and 

 probably strong wind. Misty clouds, forming or hanging 

 on heights (commonly seen about bushes on the tops of 

 hills, (tc.), show wind and rain coming, if they remain, 

 increase, or descend. If they rise, or disperse, fine 

 weather may bo expected. Dew and fog generally 

 indicate fine weather ; whilst remarkable clearness of the 

 air, unusual twinkling of the stars, indistinctness of the 

 moon's horn, haloes, the rainbow, &c., are, more or 

 less, significant of increasing wind, and possibly of rain, 

 either with or without wind. 



It often surprises persona accustomed to reside in 

 towns, how accurately those living in an open but 

 especially billy country, can predict the weather. In 

 numerous instances, however, certain local phenomena 

 interfere with regular predictions, of which wo have met 

 with several instances in various parts of England and 

 Scotland. In journeying, for instance, northward from 

 London, for about 100 miles, a great breadth of land 

 extends between the German Ocean on the east and the 

 Irish Sea on the west : proceeding still further northward, 

 the breadth of coast rapidly narrows, until the width 

 across Cumberland and Durham is little more than 

 80 miles. In the former case, the currents of air, 

 arising from the surrounding seas, spread over a greater 

 area of land, and more gradually part with their 

 moisture in the form of rain ; whilst in the north, the 

 warm westerly and cold easterly winds 'speedily meet, 

 and give rise to frequent and rapid showers or storms of 

 rain. In the mountainous tracts of Scotland, &c., 

 sudden storms of wind and rain are of constant occur- 

 rence ; and, owing to the rapid eddies or small cyclones, 

 and the narrowness of the land, the traveller may soon 

 find bis knowledge, acquired in other districts, of no 

 practical value whatever. On the west of Scotland the 

 (iulf -stream impinges ; and we speak from an experience 

 of some years, in remarking, that whilst staying, during 

 the winter, at Rothesay, in Buteshire, we have never 

 teen snow on the ground, at nearly the sea-level, more 

 than an inch in depth, and no ice ; whilst in London, the 

 winter was, at the same moment, and had been for some 

 time previously, most severe, with ice from eight to ten 

 inches in thickness. From Hull, in Yorkshire, to Wick, 

 in the north of Scotland, the winter is generally far 

 more severe than between the same points on the western 

 coasts, owing, doubtless, to the absence of the warm 

 water of the Gulf-stream, and consequently of the heated 

 superincumbent air accompanying it. Instances of this 

 kind might be greatly multiplied ; but we mention these 

 only as cautions for persona who, living at places 

 similarly circumstanced, may attempt, without modifica- 

 tion, to avail themselves of the rules we have hud down 

 in the preceding pages. 



ANIMAL INSTINCTS. That animals are by some means 

 made acquainted with coming changes of the weather, is 

 a fact supported by universal experience. The annual 

 migration of birds alone is sufficient proof ; but those 



creatures who are domesticated with us, afford more 

 constant and evident signs of possessing a certain amount 

 of weather-wisdom ; and we may profitably instance a 

 few facts respecting them, as indications to be used 

 collaterally with those already mentioned. There can 

 be little doubt that temperature, moisture, barometric 

 variations, and electrical influences, may be taken, 

 collectively, as the causes of uneasiness frequently ex- 

 perienced by ourselves, as well as by the lower creatures ; 

 for the similarity of the animal constitution, functions, 

 and organism, can point out no other solution of the 

 question. 



Without trenching on the subject of physiology, we 

 may shortly investigate the relation subsisting between 

 animal sensation and meteorological phenomena ; and, 

 for this purpose, we must avail ourselves of the effects 

 noticed on our own bodies, to explain the indications 

 which the habits and instincts of animals afford us. 

 Commencing with the lungs, it is evident that a decrease 

 of atmospheric pressure must be attended with a di- 

 minished supply of the oxygen taken in at each inspira- 

 tion, because the [volume of air is inversely as the 

 pressure. A diminished supply of oxygen immediately 

 influences the process of digestion, by diminishing the 

 rapidity with which the carbon and hydrogen of our 

 food are converted, by combination with atmospheric 

 oxygen, into carbonic acid and water. The blood con- 

 sequently becomes, to a certain extent, vitiated, and 

 the various humours suffer simultaneously. The common 

 complaint of " dullness," experienced during wet weather 

 with a southerly direction of wind, is thus readily 

 accounted for ; whilst precisely the opposite feeling, 

 experienced during northerly winds and dry weather, is 

 explained as the result of an increased atmospheric 

 pressure, a quicker and larger supply of oxygen, and a 

 more rapid oxygenation of the blood. With a southerly 

 warm and moist wind the appetite decreases, to be 

 renewed with full vigour when the brisk breezes of the 

 northerly currents set in. Again, the fluids permeate all 

 parts of the body, which is pressed on, on every side, by 

 the weight of the atmosphere, amounting to some tons 

 in the case of a man of ordinary size. If the barometric 

 column diminish, the pressure is diminished on these 

 fluids also, and hence the sense of "fulness" experienced 

 under such circumstances, and the reverse when the 

 atmospheric pressure again is increased. The skin of the 

 body is alike sensitive to the effects of variable tempera- 

 ture and moisture ; extending with an increase of them, 

 and contracting with a decrease ; and thus influencing our 

 sensations to an extraordinary extent, as is well known 

 by comparing our feelings experienced respectively during 

 winds blowing from the S. W. and K.E. Electrical 

 action, although more obscure in its effect, is not less 

 decisive ; and those who possess thin fine hair, may 

 readily perceive a decided action on the organs of sight, 

 and the nerves of the face, when positive electricity is 

 present or absent : in the latter case, dimness of sight 

 and neuralgia become exceedingly prevalent. 



Now, whatever changes we experience, we can readily 

 provide for, in various ways ; for extra clothing, fires, 

 &c., may, to a large extent, modify the ill effects to 

 which we have alluded. But the lower class of animals, 

 deficient, or perhaps destitute, of what we call "reason," 

 can make no such provision ; and hence, although feeling 

 all the inconveniences we experience, they are compelled 

 to bear with ,them until a favourable change occurs. 

 Unprovided with external clothing, except that of 

 Nature's affording, and which itself is part of their 

 bodies, they are very sensitive of atmospheric changes, 

 and therefore sooner feel them. They thus become indi- 

 cations to us of the coming bad weather, and their 

 uneasiness continues until, again perceiving, sooner than 

 ourselves, a coming but more favourable change, they 

 equally foretel its advent. Besides, the hair, wool, and 

 feathers of quadrupeds, and birds, rapidly radiate heat 

 and electricity, and thus accelerate the prevision (if we 

 may so call it) which we have just named. What we 

 here reason upon is a matter of blind experience to per- 

 sons of limited education, but necessarily of extended 



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