to be coming
from the east, or there may be an easterly current, with dense flocculent
scud at the under surface of the shower cloud running westward, but they
finally pass off to the eastward, and never to the westward. It is
possible that a _patch of scud_ may become sufficiently _dense_ and
_electrified_ to make a _shower_, but I have never observed one. Such an
_apparent_ instance may be found recorded in "Sillman's Journal," vol.
xxxix. page 57. I have seen the scud assume a distinct cumulus form, but
never to become sufficiently dense to make a thunder shower.

Thunder and lightning sometimes attend portions of regular storms in
spring and autumn, but the thunder is always heard first in the west, and
last in the east.

Again, there are admitted facts with which you are conversant, which prove
this proposition. When it has been raining all day, and just at night the
storm has nearly all passed over to the eastward, and the sun shines under
the western edge of it, and "_sets clear_," as it is termed--you say that
"_it will be clear the next day_." Why? Because the storm will not pass to
the westward, covering the sun and continuing, how strong soever the wind
may be from the east; and because it is passing, and will continue to pass
off to the eastward, leaving the sky clear. _The easterly wind will stop
as soon as the storm clouds have passed, and it will fall calm, or the
wind will "come out" from the westward._

So, too, when the clouds are dark in the west in the morning, and the sun
rises clear, but "_goes into a cloud_," as it is expressed, you say that
it will rain. And if the clouds are dense this generally proves true;
because there is a storm or shower approaching from the west, and passing
over to the east, the western edge of whose advance condensation has met
the sun in his coming, and obscured him from your vision.

When, too, it has been storming, and lights up in the N. W. you say it
will clear off; the N. W. wind will blow all the clouds away. It is,
indeed, generally true that when it so lights up it is about to clear off;
although it sometimes shuts down again, in consequence of the approach of
another storm from the westward, following closely behind the one which is
passing off. It is a great mistake, however, to suppose the N. W. wind
blows away the clouds. Watch the smooth stratus rain cloud at its lower
edge, where the clear sky is seen, and you will see that it is moving on
steadily to