70 NATURAL HISTORY. 



this kind you shall find a number of instances in our 

 inquisition De Ventis. 



819. Great mountains have a perception of the dis 

 position of the air to tempests, sooner than the valleys 

 or plains below : and therefore they say in Wales, 

 when certain hills have their night-caps on, they mean 

 mischief. The cause is, for that tempests, which are 

 for the most part bred above in the middle region (as 

 they call it), are soonest perceived to collect in the 

 places next it. 



820. The air, and fire, have subtile perceptions of 

 wind rising, before men find it. We see the trembling 

 of a candle will discover a wind that otherwise we do 

 not feel ; and the flexuous burning of flames doth shew 

 the air beginneth to be unquiet ; and so do coals of fire 

 by casting off the ashes more than they use. The 

 cause is, for that no wind at the first, till it hath struck 

 and driven the air, is apparent to the sense ; but flame 

 is easier to move than air : and for the ashes, it is no 

 marvel, though wind unperceived shake them off&quot;; for 

 we usually try which way the wind bloweth, by cast 

 ing up grass, or chaff, or such light things into the air. 



821. When wind expireth from under the sea, as it 

 causeth some resounding of the water (whereof we 

 spake before), so it causeth some light motions of bub 

 bles, and white circles of froth. The cause is, for that 

 the wind cannot be perceived by the sense, until there 

 be an eruption of a great quantity from under the 

 water ; and so it getteth into a body : whereas in the 

 first putting up it cometh in little portions. 



822. We spake of the ashes that coals cast off; and 

 of grass and chaff carried by the wind : so any light 

 thing that moveth when we find no wind, sheweth a 



