CONCERNING WEATHER SIGNS, 40-42 



a great variety of sounds in winter, it is a sign of 

 storm. Jackdaws flying from the south are a sign 

 of storm, and so are cuttle-fish. 1 It is a sign of storm 

 when a loud 2 voice is heard in harbour, which is re- 

 echoed many times. It is a sign of a stormy season 

 when a number of jelly-fish 3 appear in the sea. It 

 indicates an early winter when the breeding season 

 of sheep begins early. 



If in autumn sheep or oxen dig holes and lie 

 keeping their heads close to one another, it indicates 

 a severe winter. They say that in Pontus when 

 Arcturus rises, (the cattle 4 ) face northwards as they 

 graze. It is a sign of storm when cattle eat more 

 than usual and lie down on their right sides. 5 So is 

 it when the ass shakes 6 his ears, or when sheep or 

 birds fight for their food more than usual, since they 

 are then trying to secure a store against bad weather : 

 also when mice squeak and dance. 



A bitch digging holes with her paws and a tree- 

 frog croaking alone at early dawn 7 are signs of 

 storm : it indicates storm when a number of the 

 worms 8 called 'the earth's entrails' appear. It is a 

 sign of storm if the fire refuses to catch, or if a lamp 

 refuses to light : while, if much ash is formed, it is a 

 sign of snow. If a lamp burns steadily in fine 

 weather, it is a sign of storm : so is it if in winter- 

 time dark snuff 9 forms : if it is, as it were, full of 

 numerous millet-seeds, there will be stormy weather ; 



4 QUTTOV is clearly corrupt, and words indicating what the 

 sign portends are missing. 5 cf. 54. 



6 &ra Kpovwv doubtful. Sch. suggests ovSas for 2>ra. 



7 ojepapfey, cf. 21. 



8 7775 evrepa. So Arat. 225 explains. One might guess 

 ' worm-casts.' 



9 cf. 14, 25, 34, 54. 



421 



