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Theophrastus

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oftheLoebClassicalLibraryeditionoftheEnquiryintoPlants,1926
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THEOPHRASTUS

ConcerningWeatherSigns

(Vol.II)

p391

Copyright

The work appears in pp390433 of Vol. II of the Loeb Classical Librarys

editionofTheophrastusEnquiryintoPlants, rst published in 1926. It is now
in the public domain pursuant to the 1978 revision of the U. S. Copyright
Code, since the copyright expired in 1954 and was not renewed at the
appropriatetime,whichwouldhavebeenthatyearortheyearbefore.(Details
hereonthecopyrightlawinvolved.)

1Thesignsofrainwindstormandfairweatherwehavedescribedsofaraswasa ainable,
partlyfromourownobservation,partlyfromtheinformationofpersonsofcredit.
Nowthosesignswhichbelongtothese ingorrisingoftheheavenlybodiesmustbelearntfrom
astronomy. 1
2 Their se ings are twofold, since they may be said to have set when they
becomeinvisible.Andthisoccurswhenthestarsetsalongwiththesun,andalsowhenitsetsat
sunrise. In like manner their risings are twofold: there is the morning rising, when the star rises
beforethesun,andthereistherisingatnightfall,whenitrisesatsunset.
NowwhatarecalledtherisingsofArcturusoccuratbothtimes,hiswinterrisingbeingatnightfall
andhisautumnrisingatdawn.Buttherisingofmostofthefamiliarconstellationsisatdawn,for
instance,thePleiadOrionandtheDog.
3 Ofthe remaining signs some belongspecially toallsuch lands ascontainhighmountains
andvalleys,speciallywheresuchmountainsextenddowntothesea:for,whenthewindsbeginto
blow, the clouds are thrown against such places, and, when the winds change, the clouds also
change 2 andtakeacontrarydirection,and,astheybecomeladenwithmoisture,theyse ledown

p393

inthehollowsbecauseoftheirweight.Whereforegoodheedmustbetakentothelocalconditions
oftheregioninwhichoneisplaced.Itisindeedalwayspossibletondsuchanobserver,andthe
signslearntfromsuchpersonsarethemosttrustworthy.
4 Thus in some parts have been found good astronomers: for instance, Matriketas 3 at
Methymna observed the solstices from Mount Lepetymnos, Cleostratus 4 in tenedos from
MountIda,PhaeinosatAthensfromMountLycabe us:Meton,whomadethecycle 5 ofnineteen
years,wasthepupilofthelastnamed.PhaeinoswasaresidentalienatAthens,whileMetonwas
anAthenian.Othersalsohavemadeastronomicalobservationsinlikemanner.
5Again there are other signs which are taken from domestic animals or from certain other

190 min to Spreed

quartersandhappenings.Mostimportantofallarethe 6 signstakenfromthesunandmoon:for
the moon is as it were a nocturnal sun. Wherefore also the meetings of the months are stormy,
because the moons light fails from the fourth day from the end of one month to the fourth day
fromthebeginningofthenext:thereisthereforeafailureofthemooncorrespondingtothefailure
ofthesun.

6Whereforeanyonewhodesirestoforecasttheweathermustpayespecialheedto

thecharacteroftherisingsandse ingsoftheseluminaries.
Now the rst point to be seized is that the various periods are all divided in half, so that ones
studyoftheyearthemonthorthedayshouldtakeaccountofthesedivisions.Theyearisdivided

p395

inhalfbythese ingandrisingofthePleiad: 7 forfromthese ingtotherisingisahalfyear.So

thattobeginwiththewholeperiodisdividedintohalves:

7andalikedivisioniseectedby

the solstices and equinoxes. From which it follows that, whatever is the condition of the
atmospherewhenthePleiadsets,thatitcontinuesingeneraltobetillthewintersolstice,and,ifit
doeschange,thechangeonlytakesplaceafterthesolstice:while,ifitdoesnotchange,itcontinues
thesametillthespringequinox:thesameprincipleholdsgoodfromthattimetotherisingofthe
Pleiad,fromthatagaintothesummersolstice,fromthatagaintotheautumnalequinox,andfrom
thattothese ingthePleiad.
8 So too is it with each month; the full moon and the eighth 8 and the fourth days make
divisions into halves, so that one should make the new moon the startingpoint of ones survey.
Achangemostoftentakesplaceonthefourthday,or,failingthat,ontheeighth,or,failingthat,at
thefullmoon;afterthattheperiodsarefromthefullmoontotheeighthdayfromtheendofthe
month,fromthattothefourthdayfromtheend,andfromthattothenewmoon.
9Thedivisionsofthedayfollowingeneralthesameprinciple:thereisthesunrise,themid
morning,noon,midafternoon,andsunset;andthecorrespondingdivisionsofthenighthavelike
eectsinthema erofwindsstormsandfairweather;thatistosay,ifthereistobeachange,it
willgenerallyoccuratoneofthesedivisions.Ingeneralthereforeoneshouldobservetheperiods
inthewayindicated,thoughastoparticularsignswemustfollowtheacceptedmethod. 9

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Thesignsofrain.

10Nowthesignsofrainappeartobeasfollows:mostunmistakableisthatwhichoccursat
dawn,whentheskyhasareddishappearancebeforesunrise;forthisusuallyindicatesrainwithin
three days, if not on that very day. Other signs point the same way: thus a red sky at sunset
indicatesrainwithinthreedays,ifnotbefore,thoughlesscertainlythanaredskyatdawn.
11Again, if the sun sets in a cloud in winter or spring, this generally indicates rain within
three days. So too, if there are streaks of light from the south, while, if these are seen from the
north,itisalesscertainsign.Again,ifthesunwhenitriseshasablackmark,orifitrises 10 outof
clouds,itisasignofrain;while,ifatsunrisetherearerays 11 shootingoutbeforetheactualrising,
it is a sign of rain and also of wind.Again if, as the sun sinks, a cloud forms below it and this
breaksupitsrays,itisasignofstormyweather.Again,ifitsetsorriseswithaburningheat,and
thereisnowind,itisasignofrain.
12Moonrisegivessimilarindications,atthetimeoffullmoon:theyarelesscertainwhenthe
moonisnotfull.Ifthemoonlooksery,itindicatesbreezyweatherforthatmonth,ifdusky,wet
weather;and,whateverindicationsthecrescentmoongives,aregivenwhenitisthreedaysold.
13Manyshooting 12 starsareasignofrainorwind,andthewindorrainwillcomefromthat
quarter from which they appear. Again, if at sunrise or sunset the suns rays appear massed
together,itisasignofrain. 13 Alsoitisasignofrainwhenatsunrisetherays 14 arecolouredasin
aneclipse;andalsowhenthereareclouds 15 likeaeeceofwool.Therisingofbubbles 16 inlarge
numbersonthesurfaceofriversisasignofabundantrain.Andingeneral,whenarainbow 17 is
seenroundorthroughalamp,itsigniesrainfromthesouth.
14Again, if the wind is from the south, the snu 18 of the lampwick indicates rain; it also
indicates wind in proportion to its bulk and seize: while if the snu is small, like milletseed, 19
andofbrightcolour,itindicatesrainaswellaswind.Again,wheninwinterthelamprejects 20 the
amebutcatches,asitwere,hereandthereinspurts,itisasignofrain;soalsoisit,iftheraysof
lightleapuponthelamp,oriftherearesparks.
15Itisasignofrainorstormwhenbirdswhicharenotaquatictakeabath.Itisasignofrain
whenatoadtakesabath,andstillmoresowhenfrogsarevocal.Sotooistheappearanceofthe
lizardknownassalamander, 21 andstillmorethechirrupingofthegreenfroginatree.Itisasign

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of rain when swallows 22 hit the water of the lakes with their belly. It is a sign of storm or rain
whentheoxlickshisforehoof;ifheputs 23 hisheaduptowardstheskyandsnustheair,itisa

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signofrain.
16Itisasignofrainwhenacrowputsbackitsheadonarockwhichiswashedbywaves,or
whenitoftendivesorhoversoverthewater.Itisasignofrainiftheraven,whoisaccustomedto
make many dierent sounds, repeats one of these twice quickly and makes a whirring 24 sound
andshakesitswings.Sotooif,duringarainyseason, 25 heu ersmanydierentsounds,orifhe
searchesforliceperchedinanolivetree.Andif,whetherinfairorwetweather,heimitates,asit
were,withhisvoicefallingdrops,itisasignofrain.Sotooisitifravensorjackdawsyhighand
scream 26 likehawks.And,ifaraveninfairweatherdoesnotu erhisaccustomednoteandmakes
awhirringwithhiswings, 27 itisasignofrain.
17Itisasignofrainifahawkperchesonatree,iesrightintoitandproceedstosearchfor
lice: also, when in summer a number of birds living on an island pack together: if a moderate
number left, it is a good sign for goats and ocks, while if the number is exceedingly large, it
portendsaseveredrought.Andingeneralitisasignofrainwhencocksandhenssearchforlice;
asalsowhentheymakeanoiselikethatoffallingrain.
18Againitisasignofrainwhenatame 28 duckgetsundertheeavesandapsitswings.Also
itisasignofrainwhenjackdawsandfowlsaptheirwingswhetheronalakeoronthesealike
theduck.Itisasignofwindorrainwhenaheronu ershisnoteatearlymorning:if,asheies
towards the sea, he u ers his cry, it is a sign of rain rather than of wind, and in general, if he
makesaloudcry,itportendswind.

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19Itisasignofrainorstormifachanchkeptinthehouseu ersitsnoteatdawn.Itisalsoa
signifanypotlledwithwatercausessparkstoywhenitisputonthere.Itisalsoasignof
rain when anumber ofmillepedes 29 are seen crawling up a wall.A dolphin 30 diving near land
andfrequentlyreappearingindicatesrainorstorm.
20IfthelesserMountHyme us,whichiscalledtheDryHill,hascloudin 31 itshollows,itisa
signofrain:soalsoisit,ifthegreaterHyme ushascloudsinsummeronthetopandonthesides:
oriftheDryHyme ushaswhitecloudsonthetopandonthesides;alsoifthesouthwestwind 32
blowsattheequinox.
21 Thunder in winter and at dawn indicates wind 33 ratherthanrain;thunderinsummerat
middayorintheeveningisasignofrain.Iflightningisseenfromallsides,itwillbeasignofrain
orwind,andalsoifitoccursintheevening.Again,ifwhenthesouthwind 34 isblowingatearly
dawn, 35 thereislightningfromthesamequarter,itindicatesrainorwind.Whenthewestwindis
accompanied by lightning from the north, it indicates either storm or rain. Lightning in the
eveninginsummertimeindicatesrainwithinthreedays,ifnotimmediately.Lightningfromthe

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northinlatesummerisasignofrain.
22WhenEuboea 36 hasagirdleaboutituptothewaist,therewillberaininashortspace.If
cloudclingsaboutMountPelion,itisanindicationofrainorwindfromthequartertowhichit
clings. When a rainbow appears, it is an indication of rain; if many rainbows appear, it is an
indicationoflongcontinuedrain.Sotooisitoftenwhenthesunappears 37 suddenlyoutofcloud.
It is a sign of rain if ants 38 in a hollow place carry their eggs up from the anthill to the high
ground, a sign of fair weather if they carry them down. If two mocksuns 39 appear, one to the
south,theothertothenorth,andthereisatthesametimeahalo,theseindicatethatitwillshortly
rain.Adarkhaloroundthesunindicatesrain,especiallyifitoccursintheafternoon.
23IntheCrabaretwostarscalledtheAsses,andthenebulousspacebetweenthemiscalled
theManger; 40 ifthisappearsdark,itisasignofrain.IfthereisnorainattherisingoftheDogor
ofArcturus, there will generally be rain or wind towards the equinox.Also the popular saying
aboutiesistrue;whentheybiteexcessively,itisasignofrain.Ifachanch 41 u ersitsnoteat
dawn,itisasignofrainorstorm,ifintheafternoon,ofrain.
24WhenatnightalongstretchofwhitecloudencompassesHyme usbelowthepeaks,there
willgenerallyberaininafewdays.Ifcloudse lesonthetempleofZeusHellanios 42 inAegina,
usuallyrainfollows.Ifagreatdealofrainfallsinwinter,thespringisusuallydry;ifthewinter
has been dry, the spring is usually wet. When there is much 43 snow in winter, a good season
generallyfollows.
25 Some say that, if in the embers 44 there is an appearance as of shining hailstones, it
generally prognosticates hail; while, if the appearance is like a number of small shining millet
seeds, 45 itportendsfairweather,ifthereiswindatthetime,but,ifthereisnowind,rainorwind.

p407

Itisbe erbothforplantsandforanimalsthatrainshouldcomefromthenorthbeforeitcomes
fromthesouth;itmusthoweverbefreshandnotbrinytothetaste.Andingeneralaseason 46 in
whichanorthwindprevailsisbe erandhealthierthanoneinwhichsoutherlywindsprevail.Itis
asignofalongwinterwhensheeporgoatshaveasecond 47 breedingseason.

Thesignsofwind.

26Suchthenaresaidtobethesignsofrain.Thefollowingaresignsofwindandbreezes.
If 48 thesunriseswithaburningheatbutdoesnotshinebrilliantly,itisasignofwind.Ifthesun
has a hollow appearance, it is a sign ofwindorrain.Ifit blazes withaburningheat for several
days,itportendslongcontinueddroughtorwind.Ifatdawnitsraysareparted,somepointingto
thenorthandsometothesouth,whiletheorbitselfis 49 clearlyseenbetween,itisasignofrain
andwind.

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27Alsoblackspotsonthesunormoonindicaterain,redspotswind.Again,if,whileanorth
wind blows, the horns 50 of the crescent moon stand out straight, westerly winds will generally
succeed,andtherestofthemonthwillbestormy.Whentheupperhornofthecrescentmoonis
bent, northerly winds 51 will prevail for that part of the month: when the lower horn is bent,
southerlywindswillprevail.If 52 howeverthehornsuptothefourthdaypointstraightandhave
notagracefulbendinwardsbutroundtoacircle,itwillgenerallybestormytillthemiddleofthe
month.Ifthemoonisdusky,itindicatesrain,ifery,itindicateswind.
28Itisasignofrainwhengullsandducks,whetherwildortame,plungeunderwater,asign
of wind when they ap their wings. Wherever the bird called kepphos ies during a calm, it is
sign of coming wind. If sparrows in winter begin to be clamorous at evening, it is a sign of a
comingchangeorofafallofrain.Aheronyingfromtheseaandscreamingisasignthatabreeze
iscoming:soisitingeneralasignofwindwhenhescreamsloudly.
29Adogrollingonthegroundisasignofviolentwind.Anumberofcobwebs 53 inmotion
portends wind or storm. The ebbtide indicates a north wind, the owing tide a wind from the
south.For,iftheowingtidesetsfromthenorth,thereisachangetothesouth,andifanebbtide
comesfromthesouth,thereisachangetothenorth.Itisasignofwindwhenthesea 54 hasaswell
orpromontoriesmoanorthereisloudnoiseonthebeach.Nowthenorthwindhaslessforceasit
ceasestoblow,thesouthwindasitbegins.Amocksun,inwhateverquarteritappears,indicates
rainorwind.

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30 The fteenth 55 day after the winter solstice is generally marked by southerly winds. If
thereisanortherlywind,everythinggetsdried 56 up,ifasoutherly,thereisabundantmoisture.If,
while a south wind is blowing, glued articles make a crackling sound, it indicates a change to a
south 57 wind. If the feet swell, there will be a change to a south wind. This also sometimes
indicates a hurricane. So too does it, if a man has a shooting pain in the right foot. 58 The
behaviour 59 of the hedgehog is also signicant: this animal makes two holes wherever he lives,
onetowardsthenorth,theothertowardsthesouth:nowwhicheverholeheblocksup,itindicates
windfromthatquarter,and,ifheclosesboth,itindicatesviolentwind.
31 If a mountain . . ., 60 it indicates wind from the north. If at sea during a wind there is a
suddencalm,itindicatesachangeoranincreaseofwind.Ifpromontories 61 seemtostandhigh
outofthesea,orasingleislandlookslikeseveral,itindicatesachangetosouthwind.Iftheland
looksblackfromthesea,itindicatesanorthwind, 62 ifwhite,asouthwind.Ahalo 63 aboutthe
moonsignieswindmorecertainlythanahaloaboutthesun:butineithercase,ifthereisabreak
inthehalo,itindicateswind,whichwillcomefromthequarterinwhichthebreakis.Iftheskyis
overcast in whatever quarter the sun is rst seen, there will be wind from that quarter. Light 64
cloudsinsummertimeindicatewind.
32 If lightning comes from all sides, it indicates rain, and from any quarter from which the
ashescomeinquicksuccessiontherewillbewind.Insummer 65 fromwhateverquarterlightand
thundercome,therewillbeviolentwinds:iftheashesarebrilliantandstartling,thewindwill
comesoonerandbemoreviolent;iftheyareofgentlercharacterandcomeatlongerintervals,the
windwillgetupgradually.Inwinterandautumnhoweverthereversehappens,forthelightning
causesthewindtocease:and,themoreviolentthelightningandthunderare,themorewillthe
wind be reduced. In spring I consider that the indications would 66 not so invariably have the
samemeaning,andthisisalsotrueofwinter.
33If,whileasouthwindisblowing,therecomeslightningfromthenorth,thewindceases.If
thereislightningatdawn,thewindgenerallyceasesonthethirdday:otherwindsthanasouth

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windhoweverdonotceasetillthefthseventhorninthday,thoughawindwhichgotupinthe
afternoonwillceasesooner.Anorth 67 windgenerallyceasesinanodd,asouthwindinaneven
numberofdays.Windsgetupatsunriseormoonrise.Iftherisingsunormoonhavecausedthe
windtocease,presently 68 itgetsupagainwithmoreforce,andwindswhichbegintoblowinthe
daytimelastlongerandarestrongerthanthosewhichbeginatnight.
34 If periodic winds have been blowing for a long time, and a windy autumn follows, the
winteriswindless:ifhoweverthecontraryhappens,thecharacterofwinterisalsoreversed.From
whateverquartercloudstreamsoutfromamountainpeak,windwillblowinthedirectionthus
indicated.Cloudswhichclingtothebackofthemountainwillalsoproducewindfromthebackof
it.Ifthereisagirdle 69 ofcloudhalfwayupMountAthos,andifmountainsingeneralwearsucha
girdle,therewillgenerallyfollowasoutherlywind.Comets 70 usuallyindicatewind,and,ifthere
aremanyofthem,droughtisalsoindicated.Aftersnow 71 asouthwind,afterhoarfrostanorth
windgenerallyblows.Snu 72 inalampindicateswindorrainfromthesouth.
35 The points from which the winds come are as they are given in the gure. 73 The winds
whichmostoftencomeonthetopofotherwindswhilethesearestillblowingarethenorthwind
(aparktias), 74 thenorthnortheastandthenorthwest.Whenhoweverthewindsarenotdispersed
byoneanotherbutdiedownoftheirownaccord,theychange 75 tothenextwindsonthegure,
reckoning from left to right according to the course of the sun. When the south wind begins to
blow,itisdry,butitbecomeswetbeforeitceases:sotoodoesthesoutheastwind.Theeastwind,
comingfromthequarterwherethesunrisesattheequinox,iswet:butitbringstheraininlight
showers.

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36Thenortheastandsouthwestarethewe estwinds;thenorththenorthnortheastandthe
northeastbringhail;snowcomeswiththenorthnortheast 76 andnorth.Thesouth,thewest,and
thesoutheastwindsbringheat.Someofthesehavetheireectonplaceswhichtheystrikeasthey
come from the sea, others on places which they visit as they come over land. The winds which
morethananyothersmaketheskythickwithcloudandcompletelycoveritarethenortheastand
thesouthwest,especiallytheformer.Whiletheotherwindsrepelthecloudsfromthemselves,the
northeast alone a racts them as it blows. Those winds which chiey bring a clear sky are the
northnorthwest and the northwest, and next after them the north. Those which most have the
characterofahurricanearethenorththenorthnorthwestandthenorthwest.
37 They acquire this character when they fall upon one another as they blow, especially in
autumn, but tosome extent in spring.Thosewhichare accompanied bylightning are thenorth
northwest the northwest the north and the northnortheast. If at sea 77 a quantity of down is
seen blown along, which has come from thistles, it indicates that there will be a great wind.
Wind 78 maybeexpectedfromanyquarterinwhichanumberofshootingstarsareseen.Ifthese
appearineveryquarteralike,itindicatesmanywinds.

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Suchthenarethesignsofwinds.

38Thefollowingaresignsofstorm.Thesunbecomingobscuredasitsinksindicatesstorm.
And,accordingasitsorbisdividedasitsets,sothesucceedingdaysturnout;forinstance,athird
or a half of the orb may remain visible. 79 If the horns 80 of the moon point straight up till the
fourthday,andifitroundstoacircle,itwillbestormytillthemiddleofthemonth.Ifcranesy
earlyandinocks,itwillbeanearlywinter; 81 iftheyylateandforalongtime,itwillbealate
winter;and,iftheywheelastheyy,itindicatesstormyweather.
39Itis 82 asignofstormwhengeesemakemoreclamourthanusualorghtfortheirfood;so
tooisitwhenasparroworchanchtwi ersatdawn.Itindicatesastormwhenthegoldcrest 83
goes into holes and hides itself; so also when the redbreast does the same. It is a sign of storm
whenthecrowcawstwiceinquicksuccessionandthenathirdtime;alsowhenthecroworraven
or jackdaw makes its call late. It is a sign of a great storm when a white sparrow or swallow is
seen,orawhitespecimenofanyotherbirdwhichisnotusuallywhite,evenastheappearanceofa
largenumberofsuchbirdsofadarkcoloursigniesrain.
40Itisalsoanindicationofstormwhenbirdseefromthesea.Achanchu eringitsnotein
aninhabitedhouseisasignofstorm.Allthesignswhichindicaterainbringstormyweather,that
istosay,snowandstorm,ifnotrain.Iftheravenu ersagreatvarietyofsoundsinwinter,itisa
signofstorm.Jackdawsyingfromthesouthareasignofstorm,andsoarecu lesh. 84 Itisa
signofstormwhenaloud 85 voiceisheardinharbour,whichisreechoedmanytimes.Itisasign
of a stormy season when a number of jellysh 86 appear in the sea. It indicates an early winter
whenthebreedingseasonofsheepbeginsearly.
41 If in autumn sheep or oxen dig holes and lie keeping their heads close to one another, it

p421

indicates a severe winter. They say that in Pontus when Arcturus rises, (the ca le) 87 face
northwardsastheygraze.Itisasignofstormwhenca leeatmorethanusualandliedownon
theirrightsides. 88 Soisitwhentheassshakes 89 his ears,orwhensheepor birdsghtfortheir
foodmorethanusual,sincetheyarethentryingtosecureastoreagainstbetweenhim:alsowhen
micesqueakanddance.
42A bitch digging holes with her paws and a treefrog croaking alone at early dawn 90 are
signs of storm: it indicates storm when a number of the worms 91 called the earths entrails
appear.Itisasignofstormifthererefusestocatch,orifalamprefusestolight:while,ifmuch
ashisformed,itisasignofsnow.Ifalampburnssteadilyinneweather,itisasignofstorm:so
isitifinwintertimedarksnu 92 forms:ifitis,asitwere,fullofnumerousmilletseeds,therewill
bestormyweather;andiftheseinneweatherappearinacircleroundtheame,itisasignof
snow.

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43IftheAsssManger 93 shrinksinsizeandbecomesdark,itisasignofstorm;alsoifthereis
vividlightningwhichdoesnotremaininthesamequarter.Ifatthese ingofthePleiadthereis
lightning over Parnes Brilessus and Hyme us when it appears over all three mountains, it
indicatesagreatstorm;whenoverthetwolesserheights,alessviolentstorm;whenoverParnes
alone,neweather.Again,ifduringastormalongcloudstretchesoverHyme us,itsigniesthat
thestormwillincreaseinforce.ItisasignofstormwhenAthosOlympusandmountainpeaksin
general are covered with clouds. If during ne weather a cloud appears in the sky stretching a
longwayandtorntoshreds,stormyweatherwillcontinue.
44Iftheautumnisunusuallyne,thesucceedingspringisusuallycold.Ifwinterbeginsearly,
itendsearlyandthereisafairspring;ifthereverse,springwillalsobelate.Ifthewinteriswet,
thespringwillbedry,ifthewinterisdry,thespringwillbefair.Ifthelatesummerissatisfactory,
thesheepwillgenerallysuerfromhunger.Ifthespringandsummerarecold,thelatesummer
andautumn 94 willbestiinghotandwindless.
45Ifthekermesoak 95 fruitswell,therefollowsalongsuccessionofstorms.Ifacloudstands
uprightonamountainpeak,itindicatesstorm;whenceArchilochuslinesMarkyou, 96 Glaucus;
deepoceanisnowstirredupwithwaves,andabouttheheightsoftheGyrae 97 thererisesacloud
erect,thesignofstorm.Ifthecloudsareofuniformcolour,like 98 awhitemembrane,itisasign

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ofstorm.When,assomecloudsaremotionless,othersmovetowardsthemwhiletheyremainat
rest,itisasignofstorm.
46Ifthesuninwinteraftergleamingoutisagainobscured,andthisisrepeatedtwoorthree
times, it will be stormy all day. If the star Hermes appears in winter, it indicates cold, if in
summer,heat.Wheninneweatherbeesdonoty 99 longdistances,butyaboutwheretheyare,
itindicatesthattherewillbeastorm.Thehowlingofawolfindicatesastormwithinthreedays.
When a wolf approaches or enters cultivated ground in the season of winter, it indicates that a
stormwillcomeimmediately.
47 It is also a sign of great storms and heavy rain when many wasps appear in autumn, or
when white birds 100 approach cultivated lands; and in general when wild creatures approach
suchlands,itindicatesanorthwindandaseverestorm.IfthewesternsideofParnesandtheside
towardsPhyleareblockedwithcloudsduringanorthwind,itisasignofstorm.
48Whenthereisasevereheat,generallythereiscompensationandaseverewinterfollows.If
thereismuchraininspring,itisfollowedbysevereheatinlowlyingdistrictsandvalleys;sothat
oneshouldmarkhowtheseasonbegins.Iftheautumnisexceedinglyne,generallythespringis
cold: if the spring is late and cold, the summer goes on late and the
scorchinghot.

101

autumn is usually

49Whenthekermesoak 102 fruitsexceedinglywell,itgenerallyindicatesaseverewinter,and

sometimestheysaythatthissignisfollowedbydroughts.Ifonetakesamole 103 andputsitina
tub,thebo om 104 ofwhichhasbeencoveredwithclay,itindicatesbythesoundswhichitu ers
windorneweather.Thereisalsothesignofstormwhichispopularlyrecognizedeverywhere,
namelywhenmiceghtforthepossessionofchaandcarryitabout.

Thesignsoffairweather.

50Thefollowingaresignsoffairweather.If 105 thesunrisesbrilliantbutwithoutscorching

heatandwithoutshowinganyspecialsigninhisorb,itindicatesfairweather.Thesamemaybe
saidofthemoonwhenitisfull.Ifinwinterthatpartoftheskyintowhichthesungoesdownis

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clear,itisasignoffairweather,unlessontheprecedingdaysthatparthasnotbeenclear,though
itwasclearabovethehorizon:inthatcasetheprospectisuncertain.Itisalsoasignoffairweather,
if during stormy conditions that part of the sky into which the sun sets is clear; and also if, in
winteratthetimeofse ing,thesunhasapalecolour.
51Again,itindicatesfairweatheriftheoutlineofthemoonofthethirddayisbright;alsoif
theAsss 106 Mangerisclearandbright.Ifthehalo 107 formsanddisappearsevenly,itisasignof
fairweather.Light 108 cloudsinwinterareasignofneweather.Itisasignofneweatherwhen

p429

OlympusAthosandingeneralthemountainswhichgivesignshavetheirtops 109 clear:sotooisit,

whencloudsencompassthematthesealevel. 110 Alsowhenafterrainthecloudshaveabronze
colourtowardssundown:inthatcasetherewillgenerallybefairweatherthenextday.
52 When there is mist, li le or no rain follows. When cranes 111 takeightanddonotcome
back,itisasignoffairweather:fortheydonotdosotilltheyseeaclearskybeforethemasthey
y.Itisasignoffairweatherwhenduringastorm 112 anowlmakesalowhoot,oratnightduring
astormitu ersalowsound.Iftheseaowlu ersitsnoteduringastorm,itindicatesfairweather,
ifduringfairweather,itindicatesastorm.Itisasignoffairweatherifasolitaryravenmakesa
lowcroak,and,aftercroakingthreetimes,repeatsthesoundagainandagain.... 113
53 If the crow caws thrice directly the dawn appears, it indicates fair weather, as also if it
makesalownoteintheeveningduringastorm.Itisasignoffairweatherifagoldcrestiesout
abroadfromaholeorfromahedgeorfromitsnest.Again,ifduringastormfromthenorththere
is a white gleam from that quarter, while in the south a solid mass of cloud has formed, it
generally signies a change to fair weather.Again when the north wind (Boreas) as it begins to
blowviolentlystirsupanumberofclouds,itindicatesfairweather.
54Whensheepbegintobreedlate,itisasignwhichfullsitselfinfairweather.Soisitwhen
anoxlies 114 on hisleftside, and also when adogdoesthe same:iftheylieontherightside,it

p431

indicates storm. The appearance of a number of cicadas indicates that the season will be
unhealthy.Ifalampburnsquietlyduringastorm,itindicatesfairweather.Soalsoifithasonthe
surfaceanappearancelikeshiningmilletseeds: 115 alsoifabrightlinesurroundsthelampnozzle.
55Thefruitingofthemastich 116 givessignsastotheseasonsofsowing: 117 ittakesplaceat
three several periods, which indicate respectively the time for the rst the second and the third
sowing:andaccordingasoneortheotherofthesefruitingtimesturnsout 118 bestandproduces
themostabundantfruit,sotoowillbethesuccessofthecorrespondingtimeofsowing.

Miscellaneoussigns.

56Thefollowingsignsaresaidtoaecteitherthewholeyearorwholeperiods 119 ofit.Ifat

thebeginningofwinterthereisdullweatherfollowedbyheat,andtheseconditionsaredispersed
by wind without rain, it indicates that towards the spring there will be hail. Again, if after the
springequinoxmistscomedown,itisanindicationofbreezesandwindsbytheseventhmonth,
reckoninginclusively.Thosemistswhichcomedownwhenthemoonisinitsrstquarterindicate
breezes for that period, those which come down when the moon is in its third quarter indicate
rain.Andthemoremistscomedownwhenthemoonisassumingeithershape,themorecertainly
istheresultjustmentionedindicated.
57Alsothewindswhichaccompanythefallingofthemistsaresignicant:ifthebreezescome
fromtheeastorsouth,rainisindicated;iffromthewestornorth,breezesandcoldweather.And
thestarswhichtheEgyptians 120 callcometsindicatenotonlytheconditionsjustmentionedbut
alsocold 121 weather.Inthecase 122 oftherisingofthestarstheindication,asinthecaseofalsoof
theequinoxesandsolstices,isgivennotattheactualtimebutali leearlierorlater.

TheEditorsNotes:
Or,perhaps,frommyastronomicalworks.

p433

.?.

Plin.5.140.OfMatriketasnothingisknown.

Said(Plin.2.31)tohaverstrecognisedtheRamandtheArcher. Athen.(7278B)connects him

withTenedos.
4

Called the great year: cf. Aelian. V. H. 10.7. <>

conj.Sch.conj.W.

seemsnecessary.? .

Plin.18.280.

cf.Arat.73f.

. seems to mean the same as theAristotelian , e.g. Eth.

Nic.2.7.9.Therenderingthefollowingmethodwouldhoweversuitthecontext.

conj.Sch.

10

Plin.18.344.

11

cf.37.

12

ins.Furl.

13

Plin.18.344.

14

Plin.18.356.

15

bracketedbySch.

16

cf.Arist.Meteor.3.4;Plut.Quaest.Nat.1.2.

17

cf.42.

18

i.e.breaksupintosmallgrains(?).cf.25,42,54.

19

i.e. refuses to light properly. The appearance seems to be that described Verg. Georg. 1.391

20

(scintillare oleum). In the same passage putres concrescere fungos perhaps illustrates the
comparisonofthesnutomilletseedabove.

cf.deigne60,whereitisexplainedwhythesalamanderputsreout.

21

Plin.18.363;Verg.Georg.1.377.

22

Plin.18.364;Verg.Georg.1.375.

23

.Sc.withhiswingsprobably;not,asLS.croaks.Plin.(18.362)seemstohavehada

24

fullertext,ortohavedrawnalsoonsomeotherauthority.

canhardlymeanwhileitisraining.

25

.?hoverlikehawks.However,Arat.231understoodittorefertothevoice:soLS.

26

.Exactsenseuncertain.cf.Soph.Ant.1004.

27

.?.

28

Sch.citesPlin.18.364,vermesterrenierumpentes,asrepresentingthis,whichseemsdoubtful.

29

cf.Plin.18.361;Cic.Div.2.70.

30

.? .

31

cf.Arist.Probl.26.26.

32

add.Furl.fromPlin.18.354.

33

Cf.Soph.Aj.257;Arist.Probl.26.20.

34

.cf.42.SoArat.216renders.

35

Evidently an A ic saying, of days when only the upper part of the Euboean mountains was
visible.
36

cf.H.P.8.10.3.

37

Plin.18.364;Verg.Georg.1.379.

38

cf.29.

39

cf.43,51.

40

cf.19,ofwhichthisseemstobeinpartarepetition.

41

SocalledbyPind.Nem.5.19.Paus.2.30.3callsitthetempleof .bracketed

42

bySch.

cf.C.P.2.2.

43

conj.Sch.,supportedbyPlin.18.358;Arat.309.MSS.

44

cf.14,42,54.

45

cf.C.P.2.2.

46

ins.Sch.;textprobablydefective.

47

Plin.18.342.

48

Plin.18.343suggeststhatthisisthemeaning:textperhapsdefective.cf.Verg.Georg.1.445.

49

cf.38.

50

Lit.thecrescentmoonhasanortherlycharacter.add.Furl.

51

cf.38;Plin.18.347;Verg.Georg.I.428;theEnglishsign,theyoungmoonwiththeoldmooninher

52

arm.

Plin.11.84;Arist.Probl.26.61.

53

cf.40;Plin.18.359;Verg.Georg.1.356.

54

cf.Arist.Probl.26.12adn.

55

,seemtobeusedquasiimpersonally;butthetextisperhapsdefective.

56

MSS.;conj.Furl.,surelywithgoodreason.cf.Arist.Probl.1.24.

57

AfterSch.andW.markalacuna,whichdoesnotseemnecessary.

58

cf.Arist.H.A.9.6adn.

59

I have marked a lacuna after . Furl. renders si mons versus aquilonem extenditur, venti

60

signumest,withwhatmeaningIcannotsee.

cf.Arist.Meteor.3.4adinit.

61

add.Furl.

62

cf.51.

63

,i.e.amackerelsky(?)ThewordseemstooccurnowhereelseexceptinHesych.,who

64

renders:derivationobscure.Itshouldprobablybereadin51for.

Plin.18.354.

65

.Sc.,whichperhapsshouldbeadded.

66

Plin.2.129.

67

SoFurl.renders:W.insertsafter.

68

cf.22.

69

cf.57.

70

cf.deVentis50;Arist.Probl.26.3.

71

cf.14,25,42,54.

72

Thegure(givingpointsofthecompass)hasnotbeenpreserved.Arist.Meteor.describessuch
agure(),whichmaybereconstructedthus:
73

Arist.doesnotseemtodistinguishand:hisisT.s:hiseight

principalwinds(inred indiagram)correspondtothoserepresentedonthefamousTowerofthe
WindsatAthens,builtabouttwohundredyearslater.

cf.Arist.l.c.

74

Plin.2.128.

75

I have bracketed as probably a gloss on ; is dicult to account for

76

otherwise.Seediagram.

Plin.18.360.

77

cf.13;Plin.18.352;Verg.Georg.1.365.

78

i.e. and the succeeding day will be more or less stormy in proportion. .

79

?=maybeobscured.

cf.27.i.e.itispossible,moreorless,toseethewholecircle.

80

SoArat.343f.interprets.

81

Plin.18.363.

82

bracketedbySch.

83


.Thewordisperhapscorruptandconcealsthenameofabird.

84

cf.21,29.isFurlanusconj.forVulg..

85

.Plin.18.349pulmones:cf.9.154.

86

isclearlycorrupt,andwordsindicatingwhatthesignportendsaremissing.

87

cf.54.

88

doubtful.Sch.suggestsfor.

89

.cf.21.

90

.SoArat.225explains.Onemightguesswormcasts.

91

cf.14,25,34,54.

92

.cf. 23, 51. See LS, s.v. ; Theocr. 22.21. Plin. 18.353, sunt in signo Cancri duae

93

stellaeparvaeaselli appellatae, exiguum inter illas spatium obtinente nubecula, quam praesepia
appellant.

add.Sch.

94

cf.49.

95

A comparison of war to stormy weather. Quoted also by Plut. de Superstitione, 72, and by

96

Heraclides,AllegoriaeHomericae,4.InbothcitationstheGreekiscorrupt.

.W.Heraclidesgives,Plut.;butoneMS.ofPlut.giveswith

97

amarginalglosssc.,whichsuggeststhatthewordisapropername.Od.4.500mentions
the (i.e. the roundbacked rocks) where Aias Oileus perished. The word is missing in
theMSS.ofT.


hasperhapsdroppedoutafter;theadjectiveseemstoagreewith.

98

cf.Arist.H.A.9.40adn.

99

Plin.18.363:presumablygulls,etc.

100

add.Sch.

101

cf.45.

102

Vulg.;Bas.Ald.;(woodcock?)conj.Furl.

103

i.e.(reading)forthebirdtondwormsinwithitslongbeak(Sch.).Itishardtosay,

104

withoutillustration,whichisthemoreconvincingofthecreaturessuggested.

Plin.18.342.

105

cf.23,43.

106

cf.22,31;Plin.18.345;Arist.Meteor.3.3.

107

Iconj.cf.31,towhichthisstatementanswers.MSS.

108

Plin.18.356.

109

Plin.18.357.cf.Verg.Georg.1.401.

110

Plin.18.362.

111

.?inwinter.Thesameambiguityoccursinmanyplaces:thesenseseemsxedhere

112

bythenextsentence.


I have marked a lacuna: the answer to is missing, presumably a statement about the

113

signicanceofmorethanoneraven.cf.Verg.Georg.1.410.

cf.41.

114

cf.14,25,42.

115

H.P.7.13.6thesameissaidof.

116

cf.H.P.7.1.1foll.

117

Iconj.;cf.H.P.7.13.6;MSS.

118

cf.6.

119

cf.34;Arist.Meteor.1.6.

120

Textseemsdoubtful,ascoldweatherwasincludedabove.

121

Thetextofthissentencecanhardlybesound.hasnosubjectand

122

noconstruction.

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