44 On Wiltshire Weather Proverbs and Weather Fallacies. 



insects and plants. Still let us be just to the humble countryman, 

 who is not guided as these latter are, by a natural inborn instinct in 

 regard to the weather, any more than his fellows are in other con- 

 ditions of life : but let us allow him the credit he deserves for his 

 careful and accurate observation on a subject which requires many 

 years experience, and no little balancing of evidence, before an 

 accurate verdic*t can be arrived at. 



I proceed now to mention such of the proverbs as are in most 

 general use among us, but I would premise that many of them are 

 common to every other county in England, and some of them are 

 in use throughout Europe. 



How true is the well-known saying :— 



u Evening grey, and morning red 

 Sends the shepherd wet to bed : 

 Evening red, and morning grey 

 Is the sure sign of a very fine day." * 



* This is perhaps one of the most universal wea ther proverbs variously expressed, throughout 

 Europe. Thus elsewhere we have:— 



" If red the sun begins his race 

 Be sure the rain will fall apace." 



" If the sun goes pale to bed 



'Twill rain tomorrow, it is said." 



U Sero rubens eoelum eras indicat esse serenum, 

 At si mane rubet, venturos indicat imbres." 



"B,ouge le matin 

 Cest de la pluie pour le voisin; 

 Kouge du couchant 

 Promet beau temps." 



" Rouge du soir 

 Bon espoir'; 

 Rouge du matin 

 Trompe le voisin." 



" Abends roth ist Morgens gut ; 

 Morgens roth thut selten gut." 



" Der Morgen grau, der Abend roth 

 Ist ein guter Wetterbot; 

 Der Abend roth, der Morgen grau, 

 Bringt das schonste Tages blau." 



" Morgenroth 

 Abendkoth." 



" Rosso di sera 

 Bon tempo se spera; 

 Bianco di matina, 

 Bon tempt se incamina." 



