P RO G N O 5- I I TS CONTINUED. 177 



pass by them, cold weather and much rain may 

 be expected. Larks rising very high, and con- 

 tinuing to sing for a long time, and kites flying 

 aloft, are signs of fair and dry weather. Iti 

 men, frequently aches, wounds, and corns, are 

 more troublesome, either towards rain or to- 

 wards frost. 



Virgil's beautiful description of this sense in 

 animals, is thus rendered by Mr. Dryden: 



Wet weather seldom hurts the most unwise; 



So plain the signs, such prophets are the skies : 



The wary crane forsees it first, and sails 



Above the storm, and leaves the hollow vales : 



The cow looks up, and from afar can find 



The change of heav'n, and snuffs it in the wind. 



The swallow skims the river's watry face, 



The frogs renew the creaks of their loquacious rac 



The careful ant her secret cell forsakes, 



And draws her eggs along the narrow tracks. 



Huge flocks of rising rooks forsake their food. 



Ancl, crying., seek the shelter of the wood. 



Besides, the several sorts of wat'ry fowls, 



That swim the seas, or haunt the stand ing pools, 



Then lave their backs with sprinkling dews in vain* 



And stem the stream to meet the promis'd rain. 



Then, after showers, 'tis easy to descry. 



Returning suns, and a serener sky. 



* * * * * * 



Their litter is not toss'd by sows unclean, 

 ****** 



And owl?, that mark the setting-sun, declare 

 A star-light ev'ning, and a morning fair. 



* k * * * * 



Then thrice the ravens rend the liquid air, 

 And croaking notes proclaim the settled fair: 

 Then round their airy palaces they fly 

 To greet the sun, and seiz'd with secret joy 

 \Vhenstorms are overblown, with food repair 

 To their forsaken nests and callow care. 



The crow has been particularly remarked by 

 tiie ancients to presage rain, when she caws, 



