example, changes to west through S.E., S., and S.W. If it backs round the other way—that is, through N.E., N., and N.W.—this is nearly always a sign of bad weather.
In order to obtain as reliable a forecast as possible, one should compare the conclusions arrived at from one's observation of the barometer, thermometer, and hygrometer, with the warnings given by the appearance of the heavens, and other natural phenomena. If the latter corroborate the former, one may be confident that one's prognostications are pretty correct. The weather-wisdom of the mariner consists in his true reading of these signs, of which a few of the most important will now be given.
A grey sky in the morning is a sign of fine weather; a high dawn, of wind. A red sky at sunset presages fine weather; a red sky in the morning, bad weather. Soft-looking clouds foretell fine weather with moderate winds; hard-edged, oily-looking clouds, and ragged clouds, foretell wind. A bright yellow sky at sunset indicates the approach of wind; a pale yellow or a greenish sky, rain. A dark blue sky presages wind; a light blue sky, fine weather. A great clearness of the atmosphere near the horizon, with distant objects raised by reflection, signifies rain, and possibly wind. A halo round the moon, if appearing distant though distinct, indicates wind, and probably rain. Dew is an indication of fine weather.
A phosphorescent sea at night; the presence of
