BOOK X\'III. L.wx. 352-L.\.\xii. 355 



circle, it means rain. In the constellation of the Crab 

 there are two small stars called the Little Asses, with 

 a small gap between them containing a httle nebula 

 called the Manger ; when this nebula ceases to be 

 visible in fine weather, a fierce storm foUows ; but 

 if the northern one of the two stars is obscured by 

 mist, there is a southerly gale, and if the southcrn 

 one, a gale from the noi-th. A doublc rainbow forc- 

 tells rain, or coming after rain, fine weather, but this 

 is not so certain ; a ring of clouds round certain stars 

 is a sign of rain. 



LXXXI. A thunderstorm in summer with more Weather 

 violent thunder than Hglitning foretells wind in tliat frlZTimndf! 

 quarter, but one with less thunder than Hghtning is andiujht- 

 a sign of rain. If there are flickers of Hglitning and andmist'. " 

 claps of thunder in a clear sky, there will be stormy 

 weather, but this will be extremely severe when it 

 Hghtens from all four quai'ters of the sky ; Hghtning 

 in the north-east only will portend i-ain for the ncxt 

 day, and Hghtning in the north a north wind. Light- 

 ning on a fine night in the south, west or north-west 

 wiU indicate wind and rain from the same quarters. 

 Thundcr in the morning signifies wind, and thundcr 

 at midday rain. 



LXXXII. When cknids sweep over the sky in fine 

 weather, wind is to be cxpected in whichever quartcr 

 the clouds come from. If they mass together in the 

 same place and when the sun approaches arc scattered, 

 and if this takes place from a northern direction, 

 they will portend winds, but if from a southern, rain. 

 If when the sun is setting ckjuds rise into the .sky on 

 either side of the sun, they will signify stormy weather ; 

 if they are more lowcring in the east they threaten 

 rain for the night, but if in the west, rain the next day. 



411 



