CHAP. 2. 1. OF CLOUDS. 41 



journal, it may be said, I have been too minute 

 in the detail of appearances. But where effects 

 are intricate and complex, an accurate detail of 

 them appears the only thing that can lead to a 

 knowledge of their particular causes. 



SECTION I. 



Of the Varieties of the Cirrus. 



I HAVE already said that the Curlcloud was by 

 no means uniform in its appearance; but, on the 

 contrary, that it exhibited a very great variety 

 of figure, both while it remained a determinate 

 cirrus, and when passing to the other modifi- 

 cations. That these varieties are the effect of 

 a variation in the cause of the cloud, cannot be 

 doubted; many of them are attendant upon 

 particular kinds of weather; and an accurate 

 examination of them, compared with other 

 coexisting phaenomena, seems likely to throw 

 additional light on the nature of the peculiar 

 office which the cirrus performs; namely, that 

 of conducting the electric fluid. 



When the weather is dry, the cirrus has 

 more of a fibrous texture than when it is damp; 

 and whatever may be its figure, whether 



