ve of rain. After a dull black sunset
rain may be expected.

It is a common saying among country people,--

"An evening red, or a morning grey,
Doth betoken a bonnie day;
In an evening grey and a morning red,
Put on your hat, or yell weet your head."

There are not many prognostics connected with the appearances of the
moon. The changes of the moon produce greater effects than at any other
period. With a clear silvery aspect fair weather may be expected. A
pale moon always indicates rain, and a red one wind. Seeing the "old
moon in the new one's arms," is a sign of stormy weather. Seeing the new
moon very young, "like the paring of a nail," also indicates wet; but
when the horns of the new moon are blunt, they indicate rain, and fair
weather when sharp. It is truly said:

"In the wane of the moon,
A cloudy morning bodes a fair afternoon."

And also

'New moon's mist
Never dies of thirst.'

Halos and coronae are oftener seen about the moon than the sun, and they
indicate rain.

The stars appearing dim indicate rain. Very few stars seen at one time,
when there is no frost, indicate a similar result.

When the sky is of deeply-coloured blue, it indicates rain. If distant
objects appear very distinct and near through the air, it indicates rain.
When the air feels oppressive to walk in, rain will follow; when it feels
light and pleasant, fair weather will continue.

When distant sounds are distinctly heard through the air in a calm day,
such as the tolling of bells, barking of dogs, talking of people,
waterfalls, or rapids over mill-dams, the air is loaded with vapour, and
rain may be expected. The sea is often heard to roar, and loudest at
night, as also the noise of a city, when a cloud is seen suspended a very
short way above head.

If smoke rise perpendicularly upwards from chimneys in calm weather, fair
weather may be expected to continue; but if it fall toward and roll along
the ground, not being easily dispersed, rain will ensue.

Many of the above prognostics, as well as some of those relating to
animals, are thus noticed by Sir Humphrey Davy, in his "Salmonia, or Days
of Fly-fishing." The conversation is between Halieus, a fly-fisher;
Poietes, a poet; Physicus, a man of science; and Ornither, a sportsman.

"_Poiet_. I hope we shall have another good day to-morrow, for the
clouds are red in the west.

_Phys_. I have no doubt of it; for the red has a