connection with the Climate of Berlin. 219 



the east wind, and which, heavy though they be, do not cool the air, 

 belong to this class. Rain with a west wind consequently becomes 

 snow in winter, snow with an east wind becomes rain, snow with a 

 west wind and a barometer on the rise, shews an increase of cold, 

 snow with an east wind and a falling barometer, shews a diminution 

 of cold. The proverb " fresh snow, more cold," has its origin 

 hence, for it snows more frequently with a west than with an east 

 wind. Besides this, there are falls of snow, at least of thick flakes 

 of snow, when the cold is not very severe ; this takes place when the 

 cold northern current, having gained the predominance, drives away 

 the southern current, and then no cause for precipitation any longer 

 exists. The usual course of winter phenomena is as follows : — 



The south wind has prevailed for a long time with the barometer 

 low ; the sky is overcast ; the air warm, with a fine drizzling rain. 

 Then the wind veers round to the west ; dark masses of clouds rise 

 on the western horizon, and a cold wind immediately begins to 

 blow from them towards us, accompanied by thick falls of snow. 

 This phenomenon repeats itself generally pretty frequently, during 

 which time thin streaks of cloud may be seen through the thick 

 masses floating much higher in the atmosphere from the south-west 

 to the north-east. With every fresh blast of wind, the barometer 

 rises suddenly, the snow freezes under our feet, the underlying strata 

 of clouds retreat continually, at least they are torn up into strips 

 and then disappear, when the weather vanes point due north. The 

 sky becomes cloudless, the fight is at an end ; its results shew them- 

 selves in bright slides on the ground ; the air is wonderfully trans- 

 parent, and it is only by the smoke which floats upwards from the 

 chimneys that the sky is momentarily clouded ; the cold now becomes 

 intense, every one hastens his steps over the crackling snow ; the 

 north wind has conquered, perhaps for weeks together the vanes 

 point unchangingly towards the north-east. But at last comes the 

 south wind on the scene, and, because of its lightness, it flows above 

 the north wind, and appears in the clear blue heavens as fine streaks 

 of cloud, such as we appropriately term Wind baume (wind trees). 

 The barometer remarks the gentle southlander and falls, although 

 the weather vanes have not as yet perceived its presence, and steadily 

 point as before to the north-east. But with still increased perse- 

 verance does the south wind press down on the east wind ; the strips 

 of cloud become denser, and appear as a milk-white covering, and 

 a great halo round the moon shews itself as a sure sign of bad 

 weather according to the lines : — 



" The hollow winds begin to blow, 



The clouds look black, the glass is low ; 

 Last night the sun went pale to bed, 

 The moon in halos hid her head, 

 'Twill surely rain." 



It begins next to snow with a south-east wind, the barometer sinks 



