Q. Into how many classes are the different sorts of clouds generally divided?
A. Into three classes:—viz. Simple, Intermediate, and Compound.
Q. How are simple clouds sub-divided?
A. 1.—Cirrus. 2.—Cum’ulus; and 3.—Stra’tus.
Q. What are cirrus clouds?
A. Clouds like fibres, loose hair, or thin streaks, are called cirrus clouds.
Q. Why are these clouds called cirrus?
A. From the Latin word, cirrus (“a lock of hair, or curl”): they are the most elevated of all clouds.
Q. What do cirrus clouds portend?
A. When the streamers point upwards, the clouds are falling, and rain is at hand: but when the streamers point downwards, expect easterly wind or drought.