WEATHER PROVERBS. 761 
points, hence it would be hard to see why these clouds indicate a "gale of wind." 
To an observer in front of such a cloud there is no anvil form at all; the " horn" 
not forming any part of the outline of the cloud. This form of cloud is de- 
veloped when the ascending currents carry the clouds into strata of air moving 
more rapidly than those below. At first the cloud is but slightly leaned forward, 
but by and by the "fan cloud" spreads out from the top, and moves rapidly for- 
ward. It is the cirro-stratus in its first stages, though the margin is often a 
cirrus. It is this cloud that produces the halo before the snow-storm, as a rule, 
but rarely before a storm in summer, as it then has too great density. The 
typical anvil cloud in this locality, is rarely seen except in the north or south, 
with the point extending eastward. 
" If you see a cloud rise against the wind, when that cloud comes up to 
you the wind will blow the same way that the cloud came." This shepherd- 
proverb, like the ordinary rules for spelling, is seriously hampered by "excep- 
tions." It applies only to the thunder-storms of summer, not to any storms of 
the other seasons. The great rain- and snow storms of winter and spring come 
up from the southwest during the prevalence of easterly winds, which do not 
change for hours, possibly days, after the storm begins. 
" Black clouds in the north in winter indicate approaching snow." If by 
this is meant a bank of black clouds then I would say that in all my experience I 
never knew the rule to hold good. A bank of clouds in the southwest in winter 
gradually darkening toward the horizon, is a very good indication of a snow- 
storm when there is an easterly breeze and the mercury ranges from 15° to 30" 
above zero. 
" If clouds be bright 'twill clear to-night. 
If clouds be dark, 'twill rain you hark." 
Reference is probably made to the appearance of clouds in the evening after 
a heavy rain, when the Sun shines up under the edge of the cloud and gilds its 
base. This would not be so very bad, — the proverb would doubtless turn out 
right at least fifty one times in a hundred. 
" If the woolly fleeces strew the heavenly way 
Be sure no rain disturbs the summer day." 
If the first clouds, cumuli, which condense in a summer morning, are light 
colored above and dark beneath, it indicates heat, and the chances for rain are 
good ; but when the morning cumuli are dull and uniform in color, it signifies 
cool weather and no rain. These are among the most reliable indicators of the 
weather that I know of, and taken in connection with the direction of the wind 
one can forecast the weather for twenty hours in nine cases in ten correctly. I 
might say further that clouds that are absorbers of sunlight are signs of fair 
weather and those that are good reflectors are signs of foul weather. The reason 
for this is evident, — the denser the cloud the better reflector it forms and the 
more nearly does it approach a saturated condition. The reason that cumuli 
VII— 48 
