our prevails most. As they happen so
seldom, they cannot well be reckoned amongst the Signs of Weather. But
now, after speaking of so many different Methods of judging when rainy
Weather will be of a short or long Continuance: Give me leave to
describe two or three Instruments easily made, which will shew the
Alterations of the Weather certainly, constantly, and early enough for
most Uses.

THERE were some Years ago a Sort of Toys sold, with a Man and a Woman
so fixed before the Door of a House, that at the Approach of wet
Weather the Woman entered it, and when the Weather grew fair the Man.
This was done by the Help of a Bit of Catgut, which shrinks in wet
Weather, and stretches again when it is fair. This appears better by a
Line and Plummet, especially if the Line be made of good Whipcord, that
is well dried, for then if it be hung against a Wainscot, and a Line
drawn under it exactly where the Plummet reaches, in very moderate
Weather it will be found to rise above it before Rain, and to sink
below when the Weather is like to become fair; but the best Instrument
of all is a good Pair of Scales, in one of which let there be a brass
Weight of a Pound, and in the other a Pound of Salt, or of Salt-Petre
well dried, a Stand being placed under the Scale, so as to hinder its
falling too low. When it is inclined to rain the Salt will swell, and
sink the Scale, when the Weather is growing fair, the brass Weight will
regain its Ascendancy.

XXIV.

SPRING and SUMMER. _If the last eighteen Days of_ February _and
ten Days of_ March _be for the most part_
rainy, _then the_ Spring and Summer _Quarters
are like to be so too: and I never knew_ a great
Drought _but it entered_ in that Season.

IT is easy to discover by Observation whether this Rule be well or ill
founded, that is to say, whether our Shepherd's Observation will serve
for other Places or not, and where it will serve and where not. But it
may not be amiss to remark that it is highly probable, or rather
absolutely certain, that the Weather in one Season of the Year
determines the Weather in another. For instance, if there be a rainy
Winter then the Autumn will be dry, if a dry Spring, then a rainy
Winter. Our Forefathers had abundance of odd Sayings upon this Subject,
and some Proverbs for every Month in the Year, but I doubt they were
indifferently founded, however there can be no Harm in