218 On the Popular Weather Prognostics of Scotland. 
day, indeed, few are known, and with regard to it careful 
observation has proved to us that 
‘Nor Paul nor Swithen rules the clouds and winds.” 
I have not included in my collection the numerous prog- 
nostics of this kind drawn from festivals in the calendar, 
first, because they are not now believed in or even known to 
the people ; and, secondly, because they are manifestly not 
worthy of belief. The very uncertainty as to whether they 
should be computed by the Gregorian or Julian Calendar is 
fatal to them. For similar reasons I have not included 
those prognostics connected with certain days or months, 
as, for instance, when the direction of the wind on New 
Year’s Eve is made to betoken the weather of the whole 
incoming year. It is a mistake to suppose that such prog- 
nostics are now believed in by the people of any part of 
Scotland. It is doubtful indeed if the belief in them was 
at any time general. They probably originated in the 
fancy of some prophetic rhymster, and to a quaint rhyming 
they are indebted for the life which they have had. 
The wide diffusion of many popular prognostics is the only 
other claim for consideration which I shall notice. Nota 
few of those most familiar to us in Scotland are popular 
beliefs not only throughout Europe, but also among many 
of the nations of the Hast and South. Many of these ap- 
pear to rest on a wide-spread faith in the steadiness of 
annual averages, and in a supposed system of compensations 
which this belief almost involves—With great respect, I 
am, my Lord, your most obedient servant, 
Artuur MitTcHELt. 
Note.—(1.) Only strictly popular weather prognostics are in- 
cluded in this collection. None of them involve the use 
of scientific instruments.—(2.) Of the great majority I am 
able to state that they are not obsolete, being still used as 
practical guides in daily life-—(8.) I have not thought it 
right to exclude any because they seemed to me valueless, 
if others had faith in them.—(4.) Many of them are men- 
tioned in the tours of Martin, Pennant, Boswell, Johnston, 
Anderson, Maculloch, &c.; and I have found a consider- 
able number scattered through the Old and New Statistical 
Accounts. Between twenty and thirty have been furnished 
