2GO NATURAL HISTORY 



to north-west more fair ; from north-west to north more 

 stormy. So that proceeding according to the order of the 

 heavens, the Median winds of the first halfward are always 

 disposed to fair weather, those of the latter halfward to 

 storms and tempests. 



35. Thunders and lightnings, and storms, with falling of 

 broken clouds are, when such cold winds as participate of the 

 north do blow, as the north-west, north-north-west, north- 

 north-east, north-east, and east-north-east. Wherefore 

 those thunders likely are accompanied with hail. 



36. Likewise snowy winds come from the north, but it 

 is from those Median winds which are not stormy, as the 

 north-west, and north-east, and by north. 



37. Winds gain their natures and properties five ways 

 only : either by the absence or presence of the sun ; or by 

 agreeing or disagreeing with the natural motion of the air; 

 or by the diversity of the matter which feedeth them, by 

 which they are engendered ; as sea, snow, marishes, or the 

 like ; or by the tincture of the. countries through which 

 they pass ; or by their original local beginnings : on high, 

 under ground, in the middle ; all which things the ensuing- 

 articles will better declare and explain. 



38. All winds have a power to dry, yea, more than the 

 sun itself, because the sun draws out the vapours ; but if 

 it be not very fervent, it doth not disperse them : but the 

 wind both draws them out, and carries them away. But 

 the south wind doth this least of any ; and both timber 

 and stones sweat more when the south wind blows a little, 

 than when it is calm and lies still. 



39. March winds are far more drying than summer 

 winds ; insomuch that such as make musical instruments 

 will stay for March winds to dry their stuff they make 

 their instruments of, to make it more porous, and better 

 sounding. 



40. All manner of winds purge the air, and cleanse it 

 from all putrefaction, so that such years as are most windy, 

 are most healthful. 



41. The sun is like to princes, who sometimes having 

 appointed deputies in some remote countries, the subjects 

 there are more obsequious to those deputies, and yield them 

 more respect than to the prince himself. And so the winds 

 which have their power and origin from the sun, do govern 

 the temperatures of the countries, and the disposition of 

 the air as much or more than the sun itself. Insomuch 

 that Peru (which, by reason of the nearness of the ocean, 



