PROG^fOSTICS OF THE WEATHER. 849 



of the moon, and be of some duration. When the moon is 

 bright, with sharp tips, the weather will be fair ; the new 

 moon not appearing until the fourth day, a rainy month will 

 ensue : when the lower horn of the new moon is sullied, 

 there will be foul weather before the full ; and should it be 

 foul in the middle, there will be storms about the full ; -if 

 the upper horn be foul, there will be rain at the wane. 



Virgil, the first of Roman poets, and not the last of natural 

 philosophers, makes the following observations in his first 

 Georgic : — 



" But four nights' old, (for that's the surest sign,) 

 With sharpen'd horns, if glorious then she shine, 

 Next day, not only that, but all the moon, 

 'Till her revolving race be wholly run. 

 Are void of tempests," 



Eain. — Sudden rain seldom lasts long ; when it comes on 

 gradually, and the air grows thick by degrees, and the sun, 

 moon, or stars shine more and more dimly, it is likely to 

 continue six hours at least. Beginning with a high southerly 

 wind, and the wind subsiding, rain for twelve hours or more 

 will follow, and will sometimes continue until a strong north 

 wind clears the air : rain beginning before sun-rise will end 

 before noon : a fine day will generally succeed a shower 

 before sunrise ; beginning an hour or two after sunrise, a 

 rainy day ; setting in wet between eleven and twelve o'clock, 

 a rainy afternoon ; clearing up about twelve, the afternoon 

 fine ; cold wind after rain brings more rain ; a squall of rain or 

 hail, it may be expected to be settled fair afterwards. It 

 has been long said that a rainy Friday is followed by a rainy 

 Sunday, and the reverse. 



Animals. — Birds are provided with an oil-bag near the 

 rump, to furnish oil for their feathers, to protect them from 

 wet. Birds and common poultry may therefore be observed, 



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