154 SALMONIA. 



generally observed a coppery or yellow sun- 

 set to foretel rain; but, as an indication 

 of wet weather approaching, nothing is more 

 certain than a halo round the moon, which 

 is produced by the precipitated water ; and 

 the larger the circle, the nearer the clouds, 

 and consequently the more ready to fall. 



HAL. I have often observed that the old 

 proverb is correct 



A rainbow in the morning is the shepherd's warning : 

 A rainbow at night is the shepherd's delight. 



Can you explain this omen? 



PHYS. A rainbow can only occur when 

 the clouds containing, or depositing, the rain 

 are opposite to the sun, and in the evening 

 the rainbow is in the east, and in the morn- 

 ing in the west ; and as our heavy rains, in 

 this climate, are usually brought by the 

 westerly wind, a rainbow in the west indi- 

 cates that the bad weather is on the road, 

 by the wind, to us; whereas the rainbow in 

 the east proves, that the rain in these clouds 

 is passing from us. 



POIET. I have often observed, that when 

 the swallows fly high, fine weather is to be 



