224 On the Popular Weather Prognostics of Scotland. — 
(13.) The fragment of a rainbow in the north, which is called 
the ‘‘ Boar’s Head,” makes the boatmen keep a look-out for wind. 
Stubs, however, are very variously interpreted. 
(14.) People speak of the new moon ‘lying on her back, and 
being ill made,” as a prognostic of wet weather. 
(15. ) “ For a period of between thirty-five and forty years T have 
never known an exception to the rule, that the first great aurora, 
after a long tract of fine weather in September or beginning of 
October, is followed on the second day, and not till the second, 
about one o’clock on the east coast, and about eleven o’clock in 
Nithsdale, by a great storm; and that the next day after the 
aurora is fine weather, fit for all agricultural purposes.” —Profes- 
sor Christison. (Communicated by Thomas Stevenson, Esq.) 
Note.—Professor Christison’s character as an observer gives 
great importance to this prognostic. 
V. Distant Objects seen with unusual Clearness. 
(1.) When to the people about Arbroath the Bell Rock light 
is particularly brilliant, rain is expected. 
(2.) About Cape Wrath, and along that part of the coast, when | q 
the Orkney Islands are distinctly seen, a storm or a continuation 
of bad weather is prognosticated. 
(3.) When from Ardersier and the adjoining parish on the 
south-east side of the Moray Firth, the distant Ross-shire hills 
are distinctly seen in the morning, rain is expected that day. 
(4.) To the people in Eaglesham, when the Kilpatrick hills 
appear near, a change to wet is looked for, but when they appear 
remote, dry weather will continue. 
(5.) When Ailsa Craig is distinctly seen, and seems near at 
hand, the people of Cumbrae look for change. When the weather — 
is going to be fine, it lies flat, but when rain is coming it assumes 
the form of a mushroom. 
Note.—Darwin, in his “ Zoonomia,” thinks that the pre- 
sence of vapour in the air increases its transparency, on 
the same principle as saturating a white opaque sheet of 
paper with oil renders it transparent. 
There is a saying in Shetland,— Everything looks large 
im an east wind, 
VI. Unusual Sounds. 
(1.) In the Kilconquhar district of Fifeshire, when the noise 
of the sea is heard coming from the direction of St Andrews or 
St Monance, which lie to the north and east, bad weather from that — 
quarter is expected. And when, afterwards, the sound is heard — 
