CONCERNING WEATHER SIGNS, 37-40 



seen. If these appear in every quarter alike, it in- 

 dicates many winds. 



Such then are the signs of winds. 



III. The following are signs of storm. The sun 

 becoming obscured as it sinks indicates storm. And, 

 according as its orb is divided as it sets, so the 

 succeeding days turn out ; for instance, a third or a 

 half of the orb may remain visible. 1 If the horns 2 of 

 the moon point straight up till the fourth day, and if 

 it rounds to a circle, it will be stormy till the middle 

 of the month. If cranes fly early and in flocks, it 

 will be an early winter ' 6 ; if they fly late and for a 

 long time, it will be a late winter ; and, if they 

 wheel as they fly, it indicates stormy weather. 



4 It is a sign of storm when geese make more 

 clamour than usual or fight for their food ; so too is 

 it when a sparrow or chaffinch twitters at dawn. It 

 indicates a storm when the goldcrest 5 goes into 

 holes and hides itself; so also when the redbreast 

 does the same. It is a sign of storm when the crow 

 caws twice in quick succession and then a third time ; 

 also when the crow or raven or jackdaw makes its 

 call late. It is a sign of a great storm when a white 

 sparrow or swallow is seen, or a white specimen of 

 any other bird which is not usually white, even as 

 the appearance of a large number of such birds of a 

 dark colour signifies rain. 



It is also an indication of storm when birds flee 

 from the sea. A chaffinch uttering its note in an 

 inhabited house is a sign of storm. All the signs 

 which indicate rain bring stormy weather, that is to 

 say, snow and storm, if not rain. If the raven utters 



3 So Arat. 343 f. interprets. 4 Plin. 18. 363. 



5 d>s bracketed by Sch. 



419 

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