rERIODICAL EAIN. 
203 
PERIODICAL RAIN. 
July Content, — The regularity of the daily 
rain during the season is a remarkable circumstance. 
The mornings are almost invariably fine, or if there 
he a few clouds at sunrise, they are soon dissipated, 
and the sun burns with unmitigated rigour through 
the forenoon. About midday fieecy clouds begin to 
appear in the north ; — these increase and coalesce, 
and begin to blacken : — thunder mutters, and waxes 
louder : — by and by one or two terrific claps are 
heard, and we look out, but there is a good deal of 
blue sky yet. Soon, however, the mountain top 
becomes enwrapped in thick misty cloud, which rolls 
rapidly down ; more thunder ; vivid flashes of light- 
ning gleam through the daylight. Now we hear the 
rain clattering upon the leaves of the forest above us, 
like shot ; but not a drop falls on us yet. Now it 
comes, however, not so much in drops, as in a sheet 
of water ; and in an instant the gullies and channels 
of the rocky hill-side are filled with discoloured and 
frothing rivulets.'^ We trace the progress of the 
* The fine description of Virgil will hardly fail to recur to the 
classic reader : — 
“ Saspe etiam immensum coelo venit agmen aquarum, 
Et foedam glomerant tempestatem imbribus atris 
Collectae ex alto nubes ; ruit arduus aether, 
Et pluvia ingenti sata lasta boumque labores 
Diluit ; implentur fossae, et cava flumina crescunt 
Cum sonitu ; fervetque fretis spirantibus aequor. 
Ipse Pater, media nimborum in nocte, corusca 
Fulmina molitur dextra ; quo maxima motu 
Terra tremit ; fugere ferae ; et mortalia corda 
Per gentes humilis stravit pavor.” 
Georg, i. 322. 
