SCIENTIFIC RECREATIONS.. 



We might quote further selections respecting the signs in the heaven 

 and earth mentioned, but the foregoing verses will be sufficient to illustrate 

 our position, and to show us that weather forecasting is, at any rate, as old as 

 the Christian era. 



The moon is generally supposed to influence the weather a " Saturday's 

 Moon " being particularly objectionable, or when she appears anew at some 

 hours after midnight thus 



1 When first the moon appears, if then she shrouds 

 Her silver crescent, tipped with sable clouds, 

 Conclude she bodes a tempest on the main, 

 And brews for fields impetuous floods of rain." 



Weather permitting, we can go out and study the clouds as described 

 in the foregoing chapters, or consult the barometer, and see which way the 

 wind blows. The child will tell us that a high "glass" means fine weather, 



Fig. 73 2 - In the northern Seas. 



and a low barometer indicates rain, but this is only relatively true. A high 

 glass may be falling, a low glass may be rising. A sudden fall or a sudden 

 rise are indicative of bad, windy weather, or a short-lived fine period. 

 The glass may rise with a northerly wind, and rain will supervene, so careful 

 observation is necessary before one can obtain even a superficial knowledge of 

 the weather. (See subsequent observations on " Weather.") 



The Americans telegraph the results of their observations of coming 

 storms across the Continent, corrected by the signs noticed and recorded by 

 vessels arriving in New York. Thus they are frequently very accurate ; 

 steady application and observation at Sandy Hook must give them a great 

 deal of useful information for the " forecasts." 



The word CLIMATE is derived from the Greek klima, a slope ; and thus at 

 a glance we perceive how the aspect it presents to the rays of the sun in the 

 earth's revolutions, must affect the " climate " of a country. Of course the 



