CONCERNING WEATHER SIGNS, 42-45 



and if these in fine weather appear in a circle round 

 the flame, it is a sign of snow. 



If the ' Ass's Manger l ' shrinks in size and becomes 

 dark, it is a sign of storm ; also if there is vivid 

 lightning which does not remain in the same quarter. 

 If at the setting of the Pleiad there is lightning 

 over Parnes Brilessus and Hymettus when it 

 appears over all three mountains, it indicates a great 

 storm; when over the two lesser heights, a less 

 violent storm ; when over Parnes alone, fine weather. 

 Again, if during a storm a long cloud stretches over 

 Hymettus, it signifies that the storm will increase in 

 force. It is a sign of storm when Athos Olympus 

 and mountain-peaks in general are covered with 

 clouds. If during fine weather a cloud appears in 

 the sky stretching a long way and torn to shreds, 

 stormy weather will continue. 



If the autumn is unusually fine, the succeeding 

 spring is generally cold. If winter begins early, it 

 ends early and there is a fair spring ; if the reverse, 

 spring will also be late. If the winter is wet, the 

 spring will be dry, if the winter is dry, the spring 

 will be fair. If the late summer is satisfactory, the 

 sheep will generally suffer from hunger. If the 

 spring and summer are cold, the late summer and 

 autumn 2 will be stifling hot and windless. 



If the kermes-oak 3 fruits well, there follows a 

 long succession of storms. If a cloud stands up- 

 right on a mountain-peak, it indicates storm ; whence 

 Archilochus' lines " Mark you, 4 Glaucus ; deep ocean 



aselli appellatae, exiguum inter illas spatium obtincnte nnle- 

 cnla, quam praesepia appellant. 2 rb add. Sch. 3 cf. 49. 

 4 A comparison of war to storm}' weather. Quoted also 

 by Pint, de Superstitione, 72, and by Heraclides, Allegoriae 

 Homer icae, 4. In both citations the Greek is corrupt. 



423 



