284 THE CHEMISTRY OF CREATION. 



fantastic landscapes, of fleecy snow-drifts, of 

 overhanging mountains, and rocks gilded by a 

 declining sun, are the results of the play of 

 light upon a mass of little particles of water. 

 The various forms of clouds have been arranged 

 under three principal classes : The Cirrus, or 

 curl-cloud; the Cumulus, or heaped-cloud ; and 

 the Stratus, or fall-cloud. These three classes 

 of clouds, with their various combinations and 

 varieties, are represented in the frontispiece 

 to this Part. However considered, the pheno- 

 mena of clouds are such as to fill us with wonder. 

 Held up mysteriously in the air, their ample 

 folds retain and convey to parched lands at a 

 distance, or to regions of high mountains and 

 cliifs, thousands of tons of the refreshing 

 draught. They are the water-bearers of the 

 skies. Laden with fresh-distilled liquid, at first 

 perfectly soft, and free from mineral or earthy 

 ingredients, and borne upon the wings of the 

 broad wind, they " turn about fulfilling God's 

 commands ;" they descend, water and make fertile 

 the earth, softening it, and making the green pas- 

 ture to sing with joy. 



Our considerations of the " clouds dropping 

 down the rain," and thus watering the desolate 

 places of the earth, call us to an explanation 

 of the latter phenomenon, namely, Rain. It 

 is supposed to be thus produced : the watery 



