CENTURY IX. 69 



and the beginning; of the spring: for till then the 



O o 1 O 



former heat and drought bear the sway, and the va 

 pours are not sufficiently multiplied. 



815. An open and warm winter portendeth a hot 

 and dry summer ; for the vapours disperse into the 

 winter showers ; whereas cold and frost keepeth them 

 in, and t/ansporteth them into the late spring and 

 summer following. 



816. Birds that use to change countries at certain 

 seasons, if they come earlier, do shew the temper 

 ature of weather, according to that country whence 

 they came : as the winter-birds, (namely, woodcocks, 

 feldfares, &c.) if they come earlier, and out of the 

 northern countries, with us shew cold winters. And 

 if it be in the same country, then they shew a temper 

 ature of season like unto that season in which they 

 come : as swallows, bats, cuckoos, &c., that come 

 towards summer, if they come early, shew a hot sum 

 mer to follow. 



817. The prognostics, more immediate, of weather 

 to follow soon after, are more certain than those of 

 seasons. The resounding of the sea upon the shore ; 

 and the murmur of winds in the woods, without ap 

 parent wind ; shew wind to follow : for such winds 

 breathing chiefly out of the earth, are not at the first 

 perceived, except they be pent by water or wood. And 

 therefore a murmur out of caves likewise portendeth 

 as much. 1 



818. The upper regions of the air perceive the 

 collection of the matter of tempests and winds, before 

 the air here below : and therefore the obscuring of the 

 smaller stars is a sign of tempests following. And of 



1 Most of these prognostics are mentioned by Pliny. 



