connection with the Climate of Berlin. 221 



and woods, hills and valleys, so much the more beautiful is the sky. 

 Hence, on the northern declivity of the Russian Biesen Giberge 

 and over the fruitful plains of Silesia, the summer heaven is much 

 more beautiful than over the Markischen Heideland. The prac- 

 tised eye of the Indian traces in the sky the course of a river 

 in countries where from the absence of civilisation no artificial means 

 have been at work to modify the natural diversity of the ground, 

 and it is clear that as a rank vegetation generates rain which again 

 in its turn nourishes the soil, so an injudicious destruction of woods 

 often destroys irrevocably the fertility of the soil. Here the periods 

 of the day Lave each their significance. As soon as the sun rises, 

 the morning clouds ascend like pillars of smoke out of the valleys, 

 but soon disappear in the increasing temperature. Towards noon, 

 they again appear in the sky like a thin veil, or sometimes they re- 

 semble flocks of sheep according to the English saying, 



If woolly fleeces strew the heavenly way, 

 Be sure no rain disturbs the summer day. 



In the south of Europe, on the contrary, the clouds which bring 

 wind to us take the form of sheep, and it is from this circumstance 

 the following proverb takes its origin, 



Brehis qui paraissent es-cieux, 

 Font temps pluvieux ou venteux. 



According to Virgil and Aratus the 6i vellera lanee" are a sign of 

 rain. 



But to return to our subject. If the ascending current of air is 

 protected against lateral currents by high mountain walls, or rises 

 from a valley in which an alpine lake is situated, then as often as for 

 fourteen days together a storm takes place at noon, as on the Lago 

 Maggiore and the Lake of Oomo, because the cold current seizes on 

 the warm air at the moment it rises above the mountains. The 

 like phenomena characterise the rainy season in the region of calms. 

 Thus, at a stated period of the day, a storm regularly begins in 

 those climates, so that the Brazilian ladies do not, like those in 

 Berlin, invite their friends to tea and coffee, but request the plea- 

 sure of their company '* before or after the storm." In the even- 

 ing, the contrary process takes place, the gradually cooling air loses 

 its expansive power, the clouds sink down on the mountain, and are 

 again dissipated in the warm air. This clearing up is not, however, 

 a sign of lasting fine weather, according to the French proverb, 



" Temps qui fait beau la nuit — 

 Dure peu quand le jour luit." 



The spectacle of the dissipation of the clouds at the sotting of the 

 sun, enlivens a walk amidst even the most solitary scenery. The 

 air becomes transparent — and every form is sharply defined against 

 the clear sky. And if the moon should chance to shine in the 

 VOL. LIV. NO. CVII1.— APRIL 1853. Q 



