Page:Cynegetica.djvu/86

70 Hound, even at eight or ten paces diſtant, eſpecially on the windy ſide, may have his portion. I adviſe all Gentlemen who delight in hunting, to provide themſelves with a barometer, or weather-glaſs. I am ſorry to ſay, that this inſtrument, though a fine invention, is ſtill imperfectly underſtood by the Philoſopher as well as the Farmer; and the index generally annexed to it, of rain, fair, ſettled fair, &c. are impertinent and deluſive. If the gravity of the air is the cauſe of drought, the latter ſhould be in proportionate degrees with the former; and yet we fee the ſudden, or extraordinary riſing of the mercury a ſure prognoſtick of an approaching change; we ſee it often continue to fall after the rain is over, and we may generally obſerve the moſt ſettled fair and the greateſt rains, both happen when it is in a moderate height. By the accounts I have kept, the mercury is commonly at the higheſt marks in dull cloudy weather, yet does it often fall a great deal faſter before a few drops or a dry miſt, than an impetuous rain; and even continue to do Rh