146 THE WEATHER, AND WEATHER PROPHETS. 



case with a rise, and in another with a fall in the ther- 

 mometer, may indicate, under given, or, as the case may 

 be, differing circumstances of wind ; widely different or 

 even opposite features in the character of the approach- 

 ing weather. It is to be borne in mind, however, most 

 carefully, that all such indications are to be received as 

 valid (pro tanto) only for a very brief interval in advance ; 

 and that the " weather-prophet" who ventures his pre- 

 dictions on the great scale, is altogether to be distrusted. 

 A lucky hit may be made : nay, some rude approach to 

 the perception of " a cycle of seasons" may possibly be 

 attainable. But no person in his senses would alter his 

 plans of conduct for six months in advance in the most 

 trifling particular, on the faith of any special prediction 

 of a warm or a cold, a wet or a dry, a calm or a stormy 

 summer or winter. Of all the minor or simply connotative 

 indications of the coming weather (as distinct from 

 those which connect themselves with our knowledge of 

 causes), the only one in which we place the slightest 

 reliance is that the appearance of " anvil-shaped clouds" 

 is very likely to be speedily followed by a gale of wind. 

 (7.) The moon is often appealed to as a great indi- 

 cator of the weather, and especially its changes as taken 

 in conjunction with some existing state of wind or sky. 

 As an attracting body causing an " aerial tide," it has 

 of course an effect, but one utterly insignificant as a 

 meteorological cause ; and the only effect distinctly 

 connected with its position with regard to the sun which 

 can be reckoned upon with any degree of certainty, is its 

 tendency to clear the sky of cloud, and to produce not 



