CHAP. 4. 3, OF PROGNOSTICKS. 145 



an increase of temperature. Heyne, in his 

 edition of Virgil, speaks of the round nubeculae 

 of this cloud as being called oviculae or little 

 sheep from their appearance, and as indicating 

 fair weather.* 



The denser features of the Sondercloud, or 

 those whose nubeculae are dense compact round 

 aggregates, are generally indicative of a Storm. 



Before storms too a feature of cirrostratus 

 appears of a cymoid figure like some architec- 

 tural ornaments. PL IV. Fig. 1. 



It is generally in variable weather that a line 

 of cirrostratus breaks out into transverse bars, 

 as in PL II. Fig. 2. and the more it approaches 

 in its figure to the form of the Cyma, the 

 greater is the likelihood of a Storm. 



The irregular increase of cumuli, particularly 

 toward evening, and in general their not sub- 

 siding in the evening, may be regarded as a 

 forewarning of wet.f 



* Among the many rules, such as are contained in our old 

 Almanacks, we find 



If woolly fleeces strew the heavenly way, 

 Be sure no rain disturb the summer day. 

 Virgil and Aratus, however, made the vellera lunae, or 

 clouds like fleeces of wool, rainy signs. 



t Clouds are said to disperse on the rising of the moon. 



L 



