CHAP. 4. 3. OP PROGNOSTICKS. 143 



SECTION III. 



Of the Prognostics of Weather from the 

 Appearance of the Sky. 



AFTER clear weather the appearance of light 

 streaks of Curlcloud in the sky is often the first 

 sign of a change. These increase, descend, be- 

 come Waneclouds, then Stackenclouds form 

 underneath and inosculate, and Rainclouds ar,e 

 the event of the process begun by fine filaments 

 of the cirrus. 



When the Curlcloud is seen in detached 

 tufts, called Mares' Tails, it may be regarded as 

 a Sign of Wind, which often follows, blowing 

 from the quarter to which the fibrous tails have 

 previously pointed. The change from Curlcloud 

 to Wanecloud, and indeed the great prevalence 

 of the latter cloud at any time must be regarded 

 as'an indication of an impending fall. The most 

 formidable features of this modification are the 

 large spreading and dense sheets of it which veil 

 the sky before Rain, and in which the sun often 

 sets shrouded foreboding a rainy day, 



The prevalence of Waneclouds at eventide 

 had been noticed as a sign of Rain long before 



