Bacon, Francis, Sylva sylvarum : or, a natural history in ten centuries

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208174Natural Hiſtory;
An open and warm Winter portendeth a hot and dry Summer: For the
11815. Vapors diſperſe into the Winter ſhowers;
whereas Cold and Froſt keep-
eth them in, and tranſporteth them into the late Spring and Summer fol-
lowing.
Birds that uſe to change Countrevs at certain Seaſons, if they come
22816. earlier, do ſhew the temperature of Weather according to that Countrey
whence they came:
As the Winter Birds, (namely, Woodcocks, Feldefares & c.)
if they come earlier, and out of the Northern Countreys, with us ſhew cold
Winters.
And if it be in the ſame Countrey, then they ſhew a temperature
of Seaſon, like unto that Seaſon in which they come;
as Swallows Bats,
Cuckses, &
c. that come towards Summer, if they come early, ſhew a hot
Summer to follow.
The Prognoſticks more immediate of Weather to ſollow ſoon after, are
33817. more certain then thoſe of Seaſons:
The Reſounding of the Sea upon the
Shore, and the Murmur of Winds in the Woods, without apparent Wind,
ſhew Wind to follow.
For ſuch Winds, breathing chiefly out of the Earth,
are not at the firſt perceived, except they be pent by Water or Wood.
And
therefore a Murmur out of Caves like wiſe portendeth as much.
The Upper Regions of the Air, perceive the Collection of the matter of
44818. Tempeſt and Winds before the Air here below.
And therefore the obſcuring
of the ſmaller Stars, is a ſign of Tempeſts following.
And of this kinde you
ſhall finde a number of inſtances in our Inquiſition de Ventis.
Great Mountains have a Perception of the diſpoſition of the Air to Tem-
55819. peſts ſooner, then the Valleys or Plains below.
And therefore they ſay in VVales,
VVhen certain Hills have their Night-caps on, they me@n miſchief.
The cauſe is, for that
Tempeſts which are for the moſt part bred above in the Middle Region, (as
they call it) are ſooneſt perceived to collect in the places next it.
The Air and Fire have ſubtil Perceptions of Wind riſing before Men
66820. finde it.
We ſee the trembling of a Candle will diſcover a Wind, that other-
wiſe we do not feel;
and the Flexious burning of Flames doth ſhew the Air
beginneth to be unquiet;
and ſo do Coals of fire, by caſting off the aſhes
more then they uſe.
The cauſe is, for that no Wind at the firſt, till it hath
ſtruck and driven the Air, is apparent to the Senſe;
but flame is eaſier to
move then Air.
And for the Aſhes, it is no marvel though Wind unperceived
ſhake them off;
for we uſually try which way the Wind bloweth, by caſting
up Graſs or Chaff, or ſuch light things into the Air.
When Wind expireth from under the Sea, as it cauſeth ſome reſound-
77821. ings of the Water, (whereof weſpake before) ſo it cauſeth ſome light mo-
tions of Bubbles, and white Circles of Froth.
The cauſe is, for that the
Wind cannot be perceived by the Senſe, until there be an Eruption of a great
quantity from under the Water, and ſo it getteth into a Body, whereas in the
firſt putting up, it cometh in little portions.
We ſpake of the Aſhes that Coals caſt off, and of Graſs and Chaff car-
88822. ried by the Wind;
ſo any light thing that moveth when we find no VVind,
ſheweth a VVind at hand:
As when Feathers or Down of Thiſtles flie to and
fro in the Air.
For Prognoſticks of VVeather from Living Creatures, it is to be noted, That
Creatures that live in the open Air (ſub dio) muſt needs have a quicker
impreſſion from the Air, then Men that live moſt within doors;
and eſpe-
cially Birds who live in the Air freeſt and cleareſt, and are apteſt by their
voice to tell tales what they finde, and likewiſe by the motion of their
flight to expreſs the ſame.

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