CONCERNING WEATHER SIGNS, 18-21 



is a sign of wind or rain when a heron utters his note 

 at early morning : if, as he flies towards the sea, he 

 utters his cry, it is a sign of rain rather than of wind, 

 and in general, if he makes a loud cry, it portends 

 wind. 



It is a sign of rain or storm if a chaffinch kept in 

 the house utters its note at dawn. It is also a sign 

 if any pot filled with water causes sparks to fly when 

 it is put on the fire. It is also a sign of rain when a 

 number of millepedes * are seen crawling up a wall. 

 A dolphin 2 diving near land and frequently re- 

 appearing indicates rain or storm. 



If the lesser Mount Hymettus, which is called the 

 Dry Hill, has cloud in 3 its hollows, it is a sign of 

 rain : so also is it, if the greater Hymettus has 

 clouds in summer on the top and on the sides : or if 

 the Dry Hymettus has white clouds on the top and 

 on the sides ; also if the south-west wind 4 blows at 

 the equinox. 



Thunder in winter and at dawn indicates wind 5 

 rather than rain ; thunder in summer at midday or 

 in the evening is a sign of rain. If lightning is seen 

 from all sides, it will be a sign of rain or wind, and 

 also if it occurs in the evening. Again, if when 

 the south wind 6 is blowing at early dawn, 7 there is 

 lightning from the same quarter, it indicates rain or 

 wind. When the west wind is accompanied by 

 lightning from the north, it indicates either storm 

 or rain. Lightning in the evening in summer time 

 indicates rain within three days, if not immediately. 



4 cf. Arist. Probt. 26. 26. 



6 6v6/xoj/ *) add. Furl, from Plin. 18. 354. 



(i cf. Soph. Aj. 257 ; Arist. Probt . 26. 20. 



7 aKpwpias. cf. 42. So Arat. 216 renders. 



403 

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