PROGNOSTICS OF THE WEATHER. 845 



the form of hail, snow, or hasty showers of rain, accompanied 

 bj a breeze of wind, while the showers are falling. 



When every cloud rises higher than the former, and all 

 within the range of vision appear in an increasing state, it 

 is a certain precursor of heavy rain ; this is perhaps most 

 remarkable on the approach of a thunder-storm : after the 

 vapours have been copiously elevated, suspended in the sky 

 by the heat, and are highly charged by the electric fluid, 

 small pieces of flying clouds augment and congregate until 

 in a short time they cover the sky, it is a certain forerunner 

 of rain ; and on the other hand, when they dissipate, and 

 resolve themselves into atmospheric air, it is a sure symptom 

 of fair weather. 



When clouds are streaming within the canopy, and small 

 ones either unite or become suddenly enlarged ; or when 

 large and assuming grotesque appearances, in the form of 

 rocks and towers ; when watery-looking clouds envelop the 

 tops of mountains, and small ragged and livid ones are near 

 the sun, more particularly at its setting, they are prognostics 

 of rain. Clouds with white summits, and livid bases, indi- 

 cate thunder, and two such clouds rising on either hand 

 foretel sudden tempests. 



When clouds gather and are formed high in the atmo- 

 sphere in thin white trains, like locks of wool, that proceeds 

 from the collection of vapour, irregularly spread by contrary 

 winds above ; and consequently wind below may be soon 

 expected, and in all probability accompanied by rain. 



Small white clouds, high in the air and light, and when 

 the mountain tops are free from clouds, are sure indications 

 of fine dry weather. 



Wind. — When the wind veers about to several points of 

 the compass, rain quickly follows. Some have asserted that 

 when the wind is in this unsettled state, if it follows the 



