Page:Book of knowledge (1).pdf/13

 more rain. Birds washing themselves. The chattering of a piet; peacocks and ducks often crying. The owl crying chewit often, swallows flying low; the working of an insect called a spinner. Many worms appearing above ground. The beasts eating greedily and licking their hoofs. The biting of fleas, gnats, &c. The soot falling much from chimnies. The sweating of stones. A circle round a candle. Aches in ancient people's limbs, or corns. Bells heard at a farther distance than usual. Sparks gathering together in the fire. No dew morning nor evening, &c. All these are sure signs of rain.

Red clouds appearing in the morning. Much shooting of stars: the rainbow red; and black circles with red streaks about the moon; stars dim and fiery. Autumn fair, a windy winter. Clouds flying swift in the air; fire burning pale or puzzing; ravens clapping themselves with their wings; the high flying of the heron; crying of swine; the herb trefoil looking very rough.

THE rainbow is that bow which the Almighty was pleased to place in the firmament as a token to Noah, that he would drown the earth no more. But as to the natural cause of it, it is caused by the sunbeams striking upon a hallow cloud, with which its edge is repelled and driven back against the sun; and thus arises a variety of colours, by the mixing of clouds, air and fiery light together; there it is seen in opposition to the sun for the most part of the evening.

THE ancients ascribe rain to be a cold and earthly vapour of humour exhaled from the earth and