

CLOUDS 185 



contrasting with the deep blue of the sky. They are 

 the highest of all the clouds. They are often a league 

 high. \\ lii-ii cirrus clouds are small and rounded 

 and closely grouped in large numbers, so as to look 

 11 la* the backs of a flock of sheep, the sky thus cov- 

 ered is said to be dappled. It is usually a sign that 

 the weather is going to change. 



"The name 'cumulus' 

 is given to those large 

 white clouds with round 

 outlines which pile up, 

 during the heat of 

 summer, like immense Cumulus 



mountains of cotton-wool. Their appearance pre- 

 sages a storm. " 



"Then the clouds we see over there next to the 

 mountains, " queried Jules, "are cumulus! They 

 look like piles of cotton. Will they bring us a 

 storm?" 



"I think not. The wind is driving them in an- 

 other direction. The storm always takes place in 

 their neighborhood. There! Hear that!" 



A sudden light had just flashed through the flocks 

 of the cumulus. After rather a long wait the noise 

 of the thunder reached them, but greatly weakened 

 by distance. Questions came quickly from Jules 's 

 and Kmilc's lips: "Why does it rain over there, 

 and not here! Why does the noise of the thunder 

 come after the lightning! Why " 



11 We are going to talk about all that," said Uncle 

 Paul: "i.ut first let us learn the other forms of 

 clouds. 'Stratus' is applied to clouds disposed in 



