CHAP. 2. 5. OF CLOUDS. 59 



x 



SECTION V. 



Of the Varieties of the Falkland. 



THOUGH most meteorological philosophers 

 now concur in the general idea that dews and 

 fogs are the result of vapour precipitated by 

 the nocturnal decrease of temperature ; yet the 

 particular circumstances under which dew is 

 formed in greater or less quantities, the time of 

 night, and the kind of weather when it is most 

 precipitated, and other facts relating to it, 

 having been variously observed by different 

 persons, have occasioned different views to be 

 taken of their various causes. In this section, 

 however, I shall confine myself to a few cursory 

 observations on the varieties of appearance 

 which the stratus presents. 



Every body must have noticed the difference 

 between the wet fogs (probably cirrostrati) which 

 happen at all times of day, but often of a morn- 

 ing,* and the white mists which wet nothing, 

 but only leave dew in drops on the herbage, 



* In Cornwall they amount to fine Rain almost ; they call 

 them the Pride of the Morning. Fine days frequently follow 

 them. 



