656 SCIENTIFIC RECREATIONS. 



Very often a yellow sunset means wind ; a wild, crimson sky means a 

 gale. On the afternoon (Saturday) before the Eurydice foundered off the 

 Isle of Wight, we particularly noted the sunset at Gravesend ; and it was evi- 

 dent (in our estimation) that a sudden storm was imminent, and we remarked it 

 to our companions. The sudden fall of the barometer, and the appearance 

 of the rising clouds early on that sad Sunday afternoon, approaching in dark 

 masses from the west and north-west, spoke of rain and (possibly) snow. 

 How true the forecast was the event proved. 



When clouds are soft and thin we expect fine weather ; when they are 

 dark and hard, rain and wind. A ragged-edged and heavy cloud indicates 

 thunder and lightning, with squalls when we see dark clouds flying rapidly 

 across the mass of cumuli. 'A " mackerel " sky and " mares' tails" generally 

 foretell wind, the direction and the upper currents being noted. The longer 

 the warning given by the heavens, the longer the bad (or fine) weather will 

 last; and the converse is also true. 



" Evening grey and morning red, 

 Put on your hat, you'll wet your head." 



The cirrus is a wispy cloud, and is often observed extending across the 

 sky on a fine afternoon. This may or may not indicate rain ; it generally 

 points to wind. If its direction be northerly and west to southerly and east, 

 it is a good sign, but from west to east it is a bad sign. The habits of birds 

 and animals, and their anxiety for shelter, " pigs running with pieces of straw 

 in their mouths," and the low-flying swallow, are all signs of approaching 

 rain and bad weather, and the scintillation of stars betokens moisture in 

 the atmosphere. These are well-known appearances, but there are others 

 regarding the winds and currents of air which require the assistance of 

 Admiral Fitzroy's book. 



For instance, a falling barometer with rising temperature means southerly 

 winds and rain ; in winter, with low temperature, snow. 



But a rising barometer with northerly wind often means rain. 



A rising glass after a low fall may, and often does, indicate more wind 

 from the north, and after that fine weather, if lower temperature also super- 

 vene. If warm weather continue under the circumstances, the wind may 

 back and blow from the southward. 



" Tke most dangerous shifts of wind happen soon after the barometer 

 rises from a very low point, or if the wind veers gradually shortly after with 

 a rising barometer." 



If the barometer rises with a southerly wind fine weather may be 

 expected, and if it falls with a northerly wind rain, hail, and snow are imminent, 

 for the rule is a fall for southerly, and a rise for northerly winds. 



A sudden fall with west wind indicates storm from northerly quarters 

 (N.E. to N.W.). An east gale veering southwards with falling glass indicates 

 a change of storm-direction to a point from N.W. or N.E., suddenly and 

 violently, though a change might have been expected from the appearance 

 of the glass. A calm frequently occurs between these disturbances. 



