230 On the Popular Weather Prognostics of Scotland. 
(12.) When the tide begins to ebb before high-water mark, and 
after receding a short distance, returns to high-water mark, or 
when, before low water, it flows for a short time and then ebbs 
again beyond the point from which the irregular flow started, a 
storm is believed to be near. These phenomena are vulgarly 
called Leakies. This prognostic is more particularly trusted on 
the shores of the Firth of Forth above Burntisland. 
(13.) “ Lang foul, lang fair,” 
Note.—This is a calculation of probabilities, and springs 
from a faith in the constancy of averages in climate, as is 
the case with many other popular prognostics. 
(14.) An unseasonably fine day in winter or spring is called 
a pet day in Scotland. The fate of pets, they say, awaits it, and 
they look for bad weather on the morrow. 
(15.) ‘* Who doffs his coat on a winter day 
Will gladly put it on in May.” 
(16.) ‘‘ If the grass grows in Janiveer 
It grows the worse for ’t all the year.”’ 
(17.) A green Yule makes a fat kirkyard. 
(18.) ‘‘ Winter thunder 
Bodes:summer hunger.’’ 
(19.) “ Long foretold, long last ; 
Short notice, soon past.” 
(20.) March dust is worth its weight in gold. 
(21.) ‘* April showers 
Bring summer flowers.” 
(22.) ‘In April a dove’s flood 
Is worth a king’s good.” 
(23.) ‘* A shower of rain in July, 
When the corn begins to fill, 
Is worth a plough of oxen, 
And all that belongs theretill.” 
(24.) The sailor notes the tightening of the cordage on his ship 
as a sign of coming rain, 
(25.) A lump of kelp acts as a good hygrometer, and prognos- 
ticates rain when it becomes damp. ~ 
(26.) When walls, built of stones which have been quarried — 
below high-water mark, become damp, wet weather is near. 
(27.) When from drains or soil-pipes a bad odour proceeds, — 
foul weather is thought to be predicted. | 
(28.) When chimneys smoke and soot falls, bad weather is at 
hand, The whistling of the wind heard within doors denotes rain, — 
When fires burn faster than usual, and with a blue flame, frosty — 
weather may be expected, ; 
