CONCERNING WEATHER SIGNS, 21-24 



Lightning from the north in late summer is a sign ot 

 rain. 



1 When Euboea has a girdle about it up to the 

 waist, there will be rain in a short space. If cloud 

 clings about Mount Pel ion, it is an indication of rain 

 or wind from the quarter to which it clings. When 

 a rainbow appears, it is an indication of rain ; if 

 many rainbows appear, it is an indication of long- 

 continued rain. So too is it often when the sun 

 appears 2 suddenly out of cloud. It is a sign of 

 rain if ants 3 in a hollow place carry their eggs up 

 from the ant-hill to the high ground, a sign of fair 

 weather if they carry them down. If two mock- 

 suns 4 appear, one to the south, the other to the 

 north, and there is at the same time a halo, these 

 indicate that it will shortly rain. A dark halo round 

 the sun indicates rain, especially if it occurs in the 

 afternoon. 



In the Crab are two stars called the Asses, and 

 the nebulous space between them is called the 

 Manger 5 ; if this appears dark, it is a sign of rain. 

 If there is no rain at the rising of the Dog or of 

 Arcturus, there will generally be rain or wind to- 

 wards the equinox. Also the popular saying about 

 flies is true ; when they bite excessively, it is a sign 

 of rain. If a chaffinch 6 utters its note at dawn, it 

 is a sign of rain or storm, if in the afternoon, of 

 rain. 



When at night a long stretch of white cloud en- 

 compasses Hymettus below the peaks, there will 

 generally be rain in a few days. If cloud settles on 



2 cf. B.P. 8. 10. 3. 



3 Plin. IS. 364 ; Verg. Georg. 1. 379. 



4 cf. 29. 5 cf. 43, 51. 



6 cf. 19, of which this seems to be in part a repetition. 



405 



