236 VARIETIES OF WEATHER. CHAP. 8. 



falling of the Dew in the evening, which is often 

 plenteous, is indicated by the crimson or lake 

 colour of the horizon for some time after sunset, 

 which extends all around, except perhaps, in 

 the West, where the Sky has a deep and rich 

 golden appearance, approximating more to red,, 

 to yellow, or to orange*. Nearly a week of 



* It is very difficult to commemorate precisely the par- 

 ticular tints exhibited by clouds ; yet this ought to be done as 

 accurately as possible : for the different colours, refracted by 

 the haze, with a horizontal Sun, are very various, on different 

 occasions, though the Sun's distance from the horizon, either 

 above or below, shall be the same. The haze, at different 

 times, refracts almost every conceivable variety of purple, 

 lake, crimson, orange, and yellow, and sometimes a brownish 

 colour. The colour of the haze should be distinguished from 

 that refracted by definite clouds. The latter also refract a 

 great variety of colours, and sometimes many tints are seen 

 in different parts of the same cloud. Though the infinite 

 shade of colours will ever prevent the adoption of terms 

 which shall define them precisely ; yet a much better nomen- 

 clature for colours might be invented, than has hitherto been 

 done. It is obvious how indefinite the present terms in com- 

 mon use are. How different the red of the Pceony from that 

 of the Papaver Rhaeas, and still more so from that of the 

 Papaver Orientale, or the Scarlet Lichnis. The yellow of the 

 Crocus, or the Marigold, from that of the Evening Primrose, 

 or the Ranunculus pratensis. Perhaps the best mode of 

 forming a nomenclature for colours, would be by reference to 

 specific flowers, which may be considered as standards. 



