72 NATURAL HISTORY. 



into the air of that temper wherein they delight : and 

 the heron, being a water-fowl, taketh pleasure in the 

 air that is condensed ; and besides, being but heavy of 

 wing, needeth the hejp of the grosser air. But the 

 kite affecteth not so much the grossness of the air, as 

 the cold and freshness thereof: for being a bird of prey, 

 and therefore hot, she delighteth in the fresh air ; and 

 (many times) flieth against the wind, as trouts and 

 salmons swim against the stream. And yet it is truu 

 also, that all birds find an ease in the depth of the air, 

 as swimmers do in a deep water. And therefore when 

 they are aloft, they can uphold themselves with their 

 wings spread, scarce moving them. 



825. Fishes, when they play towards the top of the 

 water, do commonly foretell rain. The cause is, for 

 that a fish, hating the dry, will not approach the air 

 till it groweth moist ; and when it is dry, will fly it, 

 and swim lower. 



826. Beasts do take^ comfort (generally) in a moist 

 air ; and it maketh them eat their meat better ; and 

 therefore sheep will get up betimes in the morning to 

 feed, against rain : and cattle, and deer, and coneys, 

 will feed hard before rain ; and a heifer will put up his 

 nose and snuff in the air, against rain. 



827. The trefoil, against rain, swelleth in the stalk ; 

 and so standeth more upright : for by wet, stalks do 

 erect, and leaves bow down. There is a small red 

 flower in the stubble-fields, which country people call 

 the wincopipe ; which if it open in the morning, you 

 may be sure of a fair day to follow. 



828. Even in men, aches and hurts and corns do 

 engrieve, either towards rain or towards frost : for the 

 one maketh the humours more to abound ; and the 



