1806.] Prognoftics of the Weather.—“ Liber Veritatis” of Claude, 415 
in thefe matters, MM. Villoifon and Vif- 
conti. The former is fince dead ; but 
no one can be better qualified than Vif- 
conti to furnifh the requifite fupplement, 
viz., an Index to all fuch infcriptions as 
have been publifhed fince Seguier difconti- 
nued his work. 
In 1778 M. Seguier bequeathed to the 
Academy of Nifmes, of which he was 
perpetual fecretary, his library, his MSS., 
his medals, his cabinet of natural hiinty, 
and his houfe, where the Academy for 
twenty-five years held their meetings. 
On the fuppreffion of academies, the valu- 
able legacy of Seguier was depofited in 
the public library of Nifmes. It appears 
from his letters that he procured every 
new work and differtation on the particu- 
lar object of his ftudies as foon as poffible 
after its pubiication. His correfpondence 
with the learned men of Europe was very 
extenfive ; for the letters fent to him by 
the moft illuftrious of his contemporaries, 
fuch as the Marquis Maffei, the Prefident 
Bouhier, Hagenbuc, Mazanges, Boze, 
Barthelemi, J. J. Roufleau, Caumont, St. 
Veran, &c., form feventeen folio and 4to. 
volumes. M, Tra@&s, a man of learning 
and tafte, is occupied in fele&ting -from 
this great mafs whatever may be mof in- 
terefting to the literary world, or throw 
fome light on the ftudy of antiquities and 
natural hiftory, 
et a 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
N addition to the prognoftics of the 
changes of the weather which your 
Correfyondent Mr. D. Bridges, fen., has 
given, p. 219, give me leave to add the 
following , which from many years obfer- 
vation I have obferved to be faét. : 
Anima!s are evidently fooner fenfible of 
the approaching changes of the atmo/phere 
than we are ; and from their apparent 
fenfations we’ may in many inftances de- 
termine what changes are moft likely to 
take place. 
When the raven is obferved early in 
the morning foaring round arid round ata 
great height in the air, we may be fure 
the day will be fine, and may conclude the 
weather is likely to become fair, and to 
be fettled. 
In fummer when the dor-beetle is feen 
flying about of an evening, the next day 
will probably be fine, 
When the bat is obferved flying about 
very late. of an evening, the next gay will 
probably be fiir. 
Wien the fwallow (birundo ruflica be 
Linnzus,) is obferved to fly high, the 
weather will moft likely be warm and fe- 
rene ; but if it is oblerved to fly low, and 
to dip the tips of its wings in the water as 
it fkims over its furface, the weather will 
mott likely be rainy. 
The continued hoarfe fqualling of the 
peacock and Guinea-fowl, the quacking 
of ducks and geefe, and the loud and 
clamorous croaking of frogs, are fure 
prognottics of rainy weather, 
When bees do not go out as ufual, but 
keep in their hives, rain will probably en- 
fue. 
The abundance of froth called wood- 
feare or honey-dew on trees and plants in-_ 
dicates hot weather. 
Before great itorms the miffel-thrufh 
(turdus vifcivarus, Lin.,) is known to 
fing particularly loud, and to continue fo 
unul the commencement of the rain ; 
whence it is in fome eal called the 
ftorm-fowl. 
Before high-wind {wine appear very un. 
eafy, and run (queaking about as though 
they were in great pain. 
When flocks of wild-geefe are obferved 
to fly over in a weftward direction in au- 
tumn, it indicates hard weather. 
The infertion of this letter in your tru- 
ly valuable Mifcellany wiil perhaps be of 
fervice to fome of your readers, and will 
greatly oblige, Sir, your's, &c., 
Hackney, May 3, 1806. T. F. S. 
meen iat 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
MONG your numerous Correfpon- 
A dents who are lovers of the fine-ar's 
we may hope to obtain a correét cxplana~ 
tion why Claude Lorrain has intitled his 
book. of fketches, which was publifhed 
from the originals in the collection of the 
Duke of Devonfhire, by Meflrs. Boydells, 
“© Liber Veritatis.” 
All that Ihave recently colle&ed on 
this fubje&t tends only to throw over it 
perplexity and obfcurity. ' 
Mr. Gilpin fpeaks of a redundancy in 
the defigns of Claude, and fays he has 
fimplified fome of them according to his 
own practice. Thefe defigns of Claude 
have been engraved, as I have mentioned 
above. Mr. Gilpin proceeds to obferve 
that they exhibit many beautiful parts, 
but rarely a imple whole, though the col- 
le&tion, for what rea'on is not obvious, is 
ftyled «© The, Book:.of Truth.” ‘The 
Monthly Reviewer on this gives a very 
ingenious réafon ; but whether it is the 
true one, has been doubted by feveral who 
are verfed in the hiftory of the arts. He 
fays, 
{ 
i 
