“In the wane of the moon,
A cloudy morning bodes a fair afternoon.”
And also
‘New moon’s mist
Never dies of thirst.’
Halos and coronæ are oftener seen about the moon than the sun, and they indicate rain.
The stars appearing dim indicate rain. Very few stars seen at one time, when there is no frost, indicate a similar result.
When the sky is of deeply-coloured blue, it indicates rain. If distant objects appear very distinct and near through the air, it indicates rain. When the air feels oppressive to walk in, rain will follow; when it feels light and pleasant, fair weather will continue.
When distant sounds are distinctly heard through the air in a calm day, such as the tolling of bells, barking of dogs, talking of people, waterfalls, or rapids over mill-dams, the air is loaded with vapour,
and rain may be expected. The sea is often heard to roar, and loudest at night, as also the noise of a city, when a cloud is seen suspended a very short way above head.
If smoke rise perpendicularly upwards from chimneys in calm weather, fair weather may be expected to continue; but if it fall toward and roll along the ground, not being easily dispersed, rain will ensue.
Many of the above prognostics, as well as some of those relating to animals, are thus noticed by Sir Humphrey Davy, in his “Salmonia, or Days of Fly-fishing.” The conversation is between Halieus, a fly-fisher; Poietes, a poet; Physicus, a man of science; and Ornither, a sportsman.