5^6 Prognojlifs frcm the Moon. [Book V. 



that when me wears her own natural whitenefs, with a 

 ferene fky, it is a fign of fair weather. 



Mr. Jones, in his phyfiological difquifitions, fays, 

 that when it rains during a moon, the following change 

 will probably produce clear weather for a few days, 

 and then a continuation of jrain j but on the contrary;, 

 when it has been fair throughout, and it rains at the 

 change, the fair weather will probably be reftored 

 about the fourth or fifth day of the moon, and continue 

 as before. This gentleman adds confiderable weight 

 to this obfervation, by afferting, that he has rriadc hay 

 after thefe prognoftics for twenty years, without having 

 once had the mortification to fee it damaged by rain. 

 | muft, however, confefs, that the reafon of the 

 feet is not clear to my mind j and I therefore give it 

 iblely upon his authority, and recommend it to fu- 

 ture obfervers to confute or confirm it by accurate 

 obfervations. 



VII. A whittling, or howling wind has been generally 

 efceemed almoft an infallible fign of rain. 



Though thefe principles have never as yet been re- 

 duced to a regular fyftem j yet from obfcrving care- 

 fully the above prognoftics, or rather the combinations 

 and coincidences of them, very tolerable conjectures 

 may be formed of the weather which may be expected, 

 particularly with refpect to drought or moifiure. It 

 is obfervation only, however, which can enable any 

 man to form fuch conjectures with tolerable accuracy. 

 The knowledge of weather is rather a practical than 

 fpeculative fcience; to " difcern the face of the fky" 

 was an art poflefied by ruftics at a very remote period 

 of foeiety ; and, at this time, the judgment of a fliep- 

 herd or ploughman on this fubject will commonly be 

 found a more infallible guide than that of a philoibpher. 



