THE NATURAL HISTORY OF CLOUDS. ^J 



The meteorological axioms of this great poet were pro* 

 bably selected from tb« popular ones of his age, as confirmed 

 by his own experience. Hence they ever agree with that of 

 his readers. There arc few days in the whole year more 

 calm and serene than those the morning of which break out 

 through the stratus. They are the halcyon days of our au* 

 tumn: an interval of repose between the equinoctial gales 

 and the storms of winter. 



Of the Cirro-cuinulus, 



The intermediate nature of this cloud may be ascertained Cirro-cumulufe- 

 by tracing its origin, as well as inferred from its structure, ^s"'*^* 

 The cirrus, in its slow descent through the air, may be seen 

 to pass into this and the next modification; although its 

 previous appearance does not seem absolutely necessary-to 

 the production of either. 



Most of our readers will recollect the appearance of the 

 icy efflorescences on the panes of windows, gradually melting- 

 into an assemblage of drops, which adhere to the glass, re- 

 taining somewhat of the same figure, deprived of its right 

 lines and angles. Such is the change of forcn which the 

 cirrus undergoes, in passing to the state of the cirro-cumulus. 

 And, as the water on the windows is occasionally converted 

 again into spiculae of ice, so these small rounded masses 

 sometimes suddenly resume the forms of the cirrus. In the 

 oblique denser tufts of the latter, the change to the spheroidal 

 form often begins at one extremity, and proceeds gradually 

 to the other, during which the cloud resembles a ball of flax, 

 with an end left unwound and flying out. All the cirri in 

 the same group, and frequently all those in view, observe 

 the same law in these changes. 



The cirro-cumulus forms a very beautiful sky. Nume- 

 rous distinct beds are sometimes seen floating- at different al- 

 titudes, which appear to consist of smaller and still smaller 

 clouds, as the eye traces them into the blue expanse. It is Indications 

 most frequent in summer; is the natural harbinger of in- 

 creased temperature; and, consequently, one of the best 

 indications of fair weather, when permanent or frequently 

 repeated. A more transient display of it is, however, fre- 

 quent irv the interval of warm showers, and ia winter. There 



are 



