of
Fore-street. It was founded in 1623 by the rector of St.
Dunstan's in the west, for the London clergy. The whole body
of rectors and vicars within the city are fellows of this
college, and all the clergy in and near the metropolis may
have free access to its extensive and valuable library.

* * * * *

SUPERSTITIONS ON THE WEATHER.

_From Sir H. Davy's Salmonia; or, Days of Fly-fishing.
(In Conversations.)_

POIETES, a Tyro in Fly-fishing.--PHYSICUS, an uninitiated
Angler, fond of inquiries in natural history, &c.--HALIEUS,
an accomplished fly-fisher.--ORNITHER, a sporting gentleman.

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

_Physicus_. I have no doubt of it, for the red has a tint of
purple.

_Halieus_. Do you know why this tint portends fine weather?

_Phys_. The air, when dry, I believe, refracts more red, or
heat-making rays; and as dry air is not perfectly transparent, they
are again reflected in the horizon. I have generally observed a
coppery or yellow sun-set to foretell rain; but, as an indication of
wet weather approaching, nothing is more certain than a halo round
the moon, which is produced by the precipitated water; and the
larger the circle, the nearer the clouds, and consequently the more
ready to fall.

_Hal_. I have often observed that the old proverb is correct--

A rainbow in the morning is the shepherd's warning:
A rainbow at night is the shepherd's delight.

Can you explain this omen?

_Phys_. A rainbow can only occur when the clouds containing or
depositing the rain are opposite to the sun,--and in the evening the
rainbow is in the east, and in the morning in the west; and as our
{35} heavy rains in this climate are usually brought by the westerly
wind, a rainbow in the west indicates that the bad weather is on the
road, by the wind, to us; whereas the rainbow in the east proves
that the rain in these clouds is passing from us.

_Poiet_. I have often observed, that when the swallows fly
high, fine weather is to be expected or continued; but when they fly
low, and close to the ground, rain is almost surely approaching. Can
you account for this?

_Hal_. Swallows follow the flies and gnats, and flies and gnats
usually delight in warm strata of air; and as warm air is lighter,
and usually moister, than cold air, when the warm strata of air are
high