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THE WORLD. 



the engraving, called vulgarly, mare's tail, is thought to be an in- 

 dication of violent winds, and the wind is generally from the 

 quarter towards which the fine extended ends are pointed. When 

 carefully observed, every particle of the cirrus cloud seems to be 

 inrnotion, though the whole cloud appears nearly stationary. This 

 cloud under different circumstances, presents considerable varie- 

 ty of appearance. After a continuance of clear and fine weath- 

 er a whitish line of vapor stretched out like a thread, may be ob- 

 served at a very great height, the ends seeming lost in the horizon, 

 this is often the first indication of a change from dry to wet 

 weather. To this line of cloud others are added, or as it were 

 propagated from the sides in an oblique or transverse direction 

 the whole having the appearance of net-work. 



The Cumulus, is a dense mass of rolling clouds rising from a 

 horizontal base. The name denotes a heap or pile ; it is some- 

 times called the stacken-cloud, since the masses of which it is 

 composed seem stacked or piled together. This cloud is gene- 

 rally formed during the day, but is desolved at the approach of 

 evening, it has hence been termed the cloud of day. The Stratus 

 or fall-cloud is a low cloud seeming to rest upon the earth, hence 

 its name stratus, a covering. This cloud is generally formed 

 during the night, and is sometimes called the cloud of night, it 

 is generally dissipated by the rays of the sun and in tin's case is 



