CHAP. 4. 1. OP PROGNOSTICKS. 135 



Pintado* and the Peacock, the appearance of 

 Spiders crawling on the walls more than 

 ordinary, and the coming forth of Worms, 

 have also been considered as signs of Rain. 

 Most of these have been noticed by Virgil, 

 who has likewise added several more, which 

 have never fallen under my notice,f but which 



* This bird is called the Comeback in Norfolk, and 

 regarded as the invoker of Rain. It often continues clamorous 

 throughout the whole of rainy days. 



t " Numquam imprudentibus imber 



Obfuij;, ant ilium surgentem vallibus imis 

 Aeriae fugere grues, aut bucula coelum 

 Suspicions patulis captavit naribus auras 

 Aut arguta lacus circumvolitavit hirundo 

 Et veterem in limo ranae cecinere querelam. 

 Saepius et tectis penetralibus extulit ova 

 Augustum formica terens iter, et bibit ingens 

 Arcus, et e pastu decedens agmine magno 

 Corvorum increpuit densis exercitus alis. 

 Jam varias pelagi volucres et quae Asia circum 

 Dulcibus in stagnis rimantur prata Caystri 

 Certatim largos humeris infundere rores 

 Nunc caput objectare fretis nunc currere in undas 

 Et studio incassum videas gestire lavandi, 

 Turn comix plena pluviam vocat improba voce 

 Et sola in sicca secum spatiatur arena 

 Nee nocturna quidem carpentes pensa puellae 

 Nescivere hyemem testa quum ardente viderent 

 Scintillare oleum et putres concrescere fungos. 



Firg. Geor. lib. i. 392. 



