CONCERNING WEATHER SIGNS, 35-37 



to right according to the course of the sun. When 

 the south wind begins to blow, it is dry, but it 

 becomes wet before it ceases : so too does the south- 

 east wind. The east wind, coming from the quarter 

 where the sun rises at the equinox, is wet : but it 

 brings the rain in light showers. 



The north-east and south-west are the wettest 

 winds ; the north the north-north-east and the north- 

 east bring hail ; snow comes with the north-north- 

 east 1 and north. The south, the west, and the 

 south-east winds bring heat. Some of these have 

 their effect on places which they strike as they 

 come from the sea, others on places which they visit 

 as they come over land. The winds which more 

 than any others make the sky thick with cloud and 

 completely cover it are the north-east and the south- 

 west, especially the former. While the other winds 

 repel the clouds from themselves, the north-east 

 alone attracts them as it blows. Those winds which 

 chiefly bring a clear sky are the north-north- west 

 and the north-west, and next after them the north. 

 Those which most have the character of a hurricane 

 are the north the north-north-west and the north- 

 west. 



They acquire this character when they fall upon 

 one another as they blow, especially in autumn, but to 

 some extent in spring. Those which are accompanied 

 by lightning are the north-north-west the north- 

 west the north and the north-north-east. If at 

 sea 2 a quantity of down is seen blown along, which 

 has come from thistles, it indicates that there will 

 be a great wind. Wind 3 may be expected from 

 any quarter in which a number of shooting stars are 



3 cf. 13 ; Plin. 18. 352 ; Verg. Georg. 1. 365. 



417 



VOL. II. E E 



