ts
instantly changing from a beautiful red to a bright golden yellow.
"What, indeed, can be more interesting, than when by the breaking out of
the sun in gleams, a cloud which a moment before seemed only an
unshapened mass devoid of all interest and beauty, is suddenly pierced by
cataracts of light, and imbued with the most splendid colours, varying
every instant in intensity? Numerous examples occur of this beautiful
play of colour, which cannot but remind us of the phenomena displayed by
the pigeon's neck and the peacock's tail, by opal and pearl.

"After the sun is set, the mild glow of his rays is still diffused over
every part; and it has been remarked, that the clouds assume their
brightest and most splendid colours a few minutes after it is below the
horizon. It is in the finest weather that the colouring of the sky
presents the most perfect examples of harmony, in tempestuous weather it
being almost always inharmonious. At the time of a warm sun-setting, the
whole hemisphere is influenced by the prevailing colour of the light.
The snowy summits of the Alps appear about sunset of a most beautiful
violet colour, approaching to light crimson or pink. It is remarkable,
also, as an example of that general harmony which prevails in the
material world, that the most glowing and magnificent skies occur when
terrestrial objects put on their deepest and most splendid hues. It has
also been observed, that it is not the change of vegetation only, which
gives to the decaying charms of autumn their finest and most golden hues,
but also the atmosphere and the peculiar lights and shadows which then
prevail; and there can be no doubt, on the other hand, that our
perception of beauty in the sky is very much influenced by the
surrounding scenery. In autumn all is matured; and the rich hues of the
ripened fruits and the changing foliage are rendered still more lovely by
the warm haze which a fine day at that season presents. So, also, the
earlier hues of spring have a transparency, and a thousand quivering
lights, which in their turn harmonize with the light and flitting clouds
and uncertain shadows which then prevail." {155}

[Picture: Decorative picture of lady by river]

[Picture: Foot-print of a bird, and impression of rain-drops sand-stone]

CHAPTER VII.

REMARKABLE SHOWERS--SHOWERS OF SAND--OF MUD--SHOWERS OF SULPHUR, OR
YELLOW RAIN--LUMINOUS RAIN--RED RAIN, OR SHOWERS OF BLOOD--SUPERSTITIONS