On the Popular Weather Prognostics of Scotland. 229 
Note —This is a common saying, and implies that if the 
wind is from the north-west in the early part of the day, 
it will veer or fall in the evening. It is common also in 
Iceland. The Westing appears to be important, for in 
Orkney the saying is: The west wind is a gentleman, and 
goes to bed, 
(2.) Much undulation in the air near the surface of the earth 
on a hot day in May or June foretells a lowering of the tem- 
perature. This is called Startling Jack. 
(3.) It is said to be a sign of continued good weather when the 
wind so changes during the day as to follow the sun, 
(4.) There is a peculiar rippling of the wind, or broken way 
of blowing, which is said always to prognosticate heavy rain — 
within a few hours. 
(5) Easterly gales, without rain, during the spring equinox, 
foretell a dry summer. 
(6.) Rain, with a south-east wind, is expected to last for some 
time, 
(7.) Hail, after long-continued rain, indicates a clearing up. 
(8.) Frost suddenly following heavy rain seldom lasts long,’ 
(9.) Short, slight showers, durmg dry weather, are called a 
hardening of the drought. Dust rising from the road in dry 
weather, when there is little wind, predicts change. 
(10.) The Tweed, near its mouth, sometimes rises when no rain 
has fallen there. Rain, however, may be expected, and a south- 
west wind. 
(11.) On the west coast, a gale from the west or south-west is 
frequently prognosticated by a great swell of the sea occurring 
during calm weather. The same phenomenon on the east coast 
would indicate a storm from the east or north-east, but the com- 
parative narrowness of the waters on that side of our country pro- 
bably makes this sign less valuable and less likely to occur. 
Note.—That veteran observer, the Rev. C. Clouston, has 
directed attention strongly to this, which he has himself 
often verified. 
This prognostic implies the existence of a storm in a 
distant part of the ocean, which is travelling in the direc- 
tion of our country, and it involves the notion that the 
agitation caused by the wind on the water’s surface travels 
faster than the wind itself. Mr Clouston also concludes 
from it that the breeze begiris to windward, and takes 
some time to reach the point to which it proceeds to lee- 
ward, 
The distant storm, which causes this agitation, may not 
actually reach our coasts, and the sign may thus fail. 
NEW SERIES.—VOL, XVIII. NO. I11.—ocTOBER 1868. 2G 
