201 OF WINDS. CHAP. 0. 



Vanes are of ancient invention, and one of 

 the most perfect was the Aurologinin, placed 

 in the garden of Varro ; but though so long 

 known, they have never been much improved. 

 At the Exchanges of London, of Lubeck, of 

 Amsterdam, and other great commercial towns, 

 they have indexes in the cham-ber below where 

 they are fixed, and these indexes are made to 

 move round a face like that of a clock on the 

 wall, the particular Wind being indicated on 

 the dial. The fleche or sagittiform fan is the 

 best shape for Vanes ; but almost any prepon- 

 derance of surface over weight on the side to 

 be moved by the Wind, is enough in moderate 

 breezes to indicate their direction, as we may 

 assure ourselves by observing the cumbersome 

 and whimsical forms of Dragons, Foxes, 

 Griffins, Half Moons, and other capricious 

 devises, which are set up for Weathercocks on 

 steeples and other lofty buildings. When the 

 breeze be very gentle, however, such grotesque 

 Vanes are apt to become useless. The Dragon 

 on Bowchurch Steeple, and the Grasshopper on 

 the Royal Exchange, do not gyrate with those 

 slight movements of the air that impel the 

 Vanes which turn the indexes at Lloyd's, and 

 the Office of the Insurance Company. 



