the other strata by any of the supposed ascending
currents, to form permanent clouds, and shall have occasion to allude to
the fact in another connection. It disappears usually before mid-day, and
has, when thus formed, no connection with any clouds which furnish rain.

To this Dr. Howard originally gave the name of stratus, and so it is
represented upon the cut; but the latter term may be with greater
propriety applied to the smooth uniform cloud in the superior strata from
which the rain or snow is known to fall, and I shall retain and so apply
it.

The next in order, ascending, is high fog. This is usually from one to
two thousand feet in height at its lower surface. It forms, like low fog,
during the night and in still weather; and is rarely, if ever, connected
with clouds which furnish rain. It breaks away and disappears between ten
and twelve in the forenoon, usually passing off to the eastward. This fog
is most commonly seen in summer and autumn, particularly the latter, and
unless distinguished from cloud will deceive the weather-watcher. It is
readily distinguishable. Although often very dense, obscuring the light of
the sun as perfectly as the clouds of a north-east storm, it differs from
them. It forms in still clear weather, is present only in the morning, is
perfectly uniform, and, before its dissolution commences, without breaks,
or light and shade, or apparent motion, and unaccompanied by scud or
surface wind. The storm clouds are never entirely uniform, or without
spots of light and shade, by which their nature can be discerned, and
rarely, when as dense as high fog, without scud running under them and
surface winds.

There is another fog still, connected with rain storms, but it does not
often precede them; occurring at all seasons, but most commonly in
connection with the warm S. E. thaws and rains of winter and spring; and
which usually comes on _after_ the rain has commenced and continued for
awhile, and the easterly wind has abated; occupying probably the entire
space from the earth to the inferior surface of the rain clouds or
stratus. Practically this does not require any further notice. It is an
_incident_ of the storm. When formed it remains while the storm clouds
remain, and passes off with them. It is sometimes exceedingly dense in
February and March, when it accompanies a thaw, and if there is a
considerable depth of snow, it has the credit of aiding essentially in its
dissolution.

Ming