16 OF CLOUDS. CHAP. 1. fi. 



charge. It is difficult, however, to imagine the 

 reason why, under these circumstances, the 

 electrified particles should not collect into a 

 large body like the cumulus, instead of assum- 

 ing the orbicular arrangement ; from which state 

 the cirrocumulus sometimes changes, again to 

 cirrus, but more often evaporates by degrees, or 

 passes into the compound modifications. The 

 cirrocumulus is not always uniform in its ap- 

 pearance, it varies in the size and rotundity of 

 its constituent nubeculae, and in their closer or 

 more distant arrangement. It is frequent in 

 summer, and often forms very beautiful skies: 

 at all times of the year it may be seen, in the 

 intervals of showers, and before an increase of 

 temperature, of which its prevalence is a pretty 

 certain prognostic.* 



* Extensive beds of cirrocumuli floating gently along in 

 different altitudes must have attracted almost every body's 

 notice: the beautiful appearance of these clouds, with a moon- 

 light evening, has been aptly described by Bloomfield: 

 " For yet above these wafted clouds are seen 

 In a remoter sky still more serene, 

 Others detached in ranges through the air, 

 Spotless as snow, and countless as they're fair, 

 Scatter'd immensely wide, from east to west, 

 The beauteous semblance of a flock at rest." 



The Farmer's BoyWinter. 



