A circle round the moon is called: A broch (general), meen-bow (Rosehearty, Broadsea), meen-ring, the rim (Nairn), the wheel, and the big wheel (Nairn).
In St. Comb's the expression is: "The bigger the bow, the nearer the weather"; and in Cove, "The bigger the ring, the nearer the breeze".[1]
When there is much of a green colour in the circle it is an indication of rain; but if its colour is pale, windyweather is at hand (Cairnbulg).
If the inner edge of the circle is pretty bright in green and yellow, it is an indication of rain (Nairn).
Often there is an opening in it. It indicates the direction from which the wind is to blow (general).
The small halo that appears round the moon, somewhat like a corona goes, by the name of "Cock's Eye" (general) and "Keelan's Ee", i.e., the eye of the small cod-fish. It is believed to indicate stormy weather.
III.—The Stars.
When the stars twinkle much, or when they look near, a change of weather is looked for (Rosehearty).
When the stars in a calm, during weather without frost, begin to twinkle—"lamp"—with more brightness, wind is not far distant[2] (Pittulie).
When the stars are reflected very brightly in the pools left by the tide, and twinkle much—"lamp"—during frosty weather, it is regarded as an indication of a change of weather (Pittulie).
When a large star is near the moon stormy weather is looked upon as not far off (general). It goes by the name of "Madge" in Macduff, and the saying is: "Madge is ower near the meen."
In Portessie the position of the star is taken into account,
