JT6 BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 



Watery Meteors. 



In the regions of the air, a variety of watery me- 

 teors are formed. Here are fogs, the creation of 

 those collections of vapours which chiefly rise from 

 fenny, moist places. These become more visible as 

 the light of day decreaseth, and, uniting with those 

 that rise from the waters, so as to fill the air with 

 their humid particles, are called mists. Sometimes, 

 especially in the summer months, our morning walks 

 sparkle with pellucid drops, and transparent globules 

 hang pendant from every leaf, in the form of pearly 

 dew. 



In the atmosphere, the balancings of the clouds 

 are preserved, till these swimming lakes are commis- 

 sioned to discharge their contents, not in deluging 

 torrents, confined to particular spots, but in refresh- 

 ing showers, widely spread abroad in the form of 

 drops of rain. Here, too, that wonderful phenome- 

 non snow takes its rise, which is said to be composed 

 of such vapours as are frozen while the particles are 

 small ; and hail, which is rain frozen, as hoar frost 

 is said to be of the dew. Water-spouts may be rec- 

 koned among the number of watery meteors; but, 

 having already been noticed in a preceding chapter, 

 (chap x.) we shall pass them over, and proceed to 

 the consideration of a few of the most remarkable 



Celestial Appearances. 



The wonderful and beautiful colours which we ob- 

 serve in the clouds, is owing to their particular situ- 



