Though they may be well known to most readers, we subjoin a few poetical proverbs on the weather:
"The evening red, and the morning grey,
Are certain signs of a fair day."
"If red the sun begins his race,
Expect that rain will fall apace."
"In the waning of the moon,
A cloudy morn—fair afternoon."
"If woolly fleeces spread the heavenly way,
No rain, be sure, disturbs the summer's day."
"When clouds appear like rocks and towers,
The earth's refreshed by frequent showers."
From rainbows, shepherds and sailors predicted the state of the weather.
"A rainbow in the morning is the shepherd's warning;
A rainbow at night is the sailor's delight"
When peacocks cry, be sure rain will early fall; and when the night owl screeches from the ruined tower, look for a storm; so also, if the cat is seen washing its face with its fore paws, expect a gale. When ocean birds flock on shore, a tempest is brewing on the sea.
Seamen and fishermen's wives can secure a favourable gale for their husbands by going to a chapel after mass, and blowing the dust on the door in the direction the vessels have gone.