OLD TOKENS OF WIND AND WEATHER 



truth for those who had faith in them, Little as we 

 retain of these obsolete fancies, we have not quite 

 abandoned them all ; and there are yet found among 

 our peasants, a few who mark the blooming of the 

 large white lily (lilium candidum), and think that 

 the number of its blossoms on a stem will indicate 

 the price of wheat by the bushel for the ensuing 

 year, each blossom equivalent to a shilling. We 

 expect a sunny day, too, when the pimpernel (ana- 

 gallis arvensis) fully expands its blossoms ; a du- 

 bious, or a moist one, when they are closed. In 

 this belief, however, we have the sanction of 

 some antiquity to support us ; Sir F. Bacon re- 

 cords it; Gerarde notes it as a common opinion 

 entertained by country people above two centuries 

 ago ; and I must not withhold my own faith in 

 its veracity, but say that I believe this pretty little 

 flower to afford more certain indication of dryness 

 or moisture in the air, than any of our hygrometers 

 do. But if these be fallible criterions^ we will 

 notice another, that seldom deceives us. The ap- 

 proach of a sleety snow-storm, following a deceitful 

 gleam in spring, is always announced to us by the 

 loud untuneful voice of the missel-thrush (turd us 

 viscivorus), as it takes its stand on some tall tree, 

 like an enchanter calling up the gale. It seems to 

 have no song, no voice, but this harsh predictive 

 note ; and it in great measure ceases with the 

 storms of spring. We hear it occasionally in au- 



