264 NATURAL HrSTOLlV 



Parmenides (whose opinion is not contemptible, seeing 

 cold and density are knit together by a strict knot), it is 

 no less probable that there are hotter breaths sent out 

 from the central cold of the earth than are cast down from 

 the cold of the higher air. 



14. There are certain wells in Dalmatia, and the country 

 of Gyrene (as some of the ancients record) into which if 

 you cast a stone, there will presently arise tempests, as if 

 the stone had broken some covering of a place, in which 

 the force of the winds was enclosed. 



An indirect experiment. 



^Etna, and divers other mountains cast out fire; there 

 fore it is likely that air may likewise break forth, especially 

 being dilatated and set into motion by heat in subterraneal 

 places. 



15. It hath been noted, that both before and after earth 

 quakes there hath blown certain noxious and foreign winds ; 

 as there are certain little smothers usually before and after 

 great firings and burnings. 



Monition. The air shut up in the earth is forced to break 

 out for several causes : sometimes a mass of earth, ill joined 

 together, falls into a hollow place of the earth ; sometimes 

 waters do ingulf themselves ; sometimes the air is extended 

 by subterraneal heats, and seeks for more room ; sometimes 

 the earth, which before was solid and vaulted, being by 

 fires turned into ashes, no longer able to bear itself up, 

 falls. And many such like causes. 



And so these inquisitions have been made concerning 

 the first local beginning of winds. Now folio weth the 

 second origin, or beginning from above, namely, from that 

 which they call the middle region of the air. 



Monition. But let no man understand what hath been 

 spoken so far amiss, as if we should deny the rest of the 

 winds also are brought forth of the earth by vapours. But 

 this first kind was of winds which come forth of the earth, 

 being already perfectly framed winds. 



16. It hath been observed, that there is a murmuring of 

 woods before we do plainly perceive the winds, whereby it 

 is conjectured that the wind descends from a higher place, 

 which is likewise observed in hills (as we said before), but 

 the cause is more ambiguous, by reason of the concavity 

 and hollowness of the hills. 



17. Wind follows darted, or (as we call them) shooting 

 stars, and it comes that way as the star hath shot ; whereby 

 it appears that the air hath been moved above, before the 

 motion comes to us. 



