button to main menu  Gents Mag 1748 p.255
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Gentleman's Magazine 1748 p.255

  weather
  shepherd's lore, plagiarized
Weather, and Shepherds


Signs prognostic of the Weather.

Mr URBAN,
A Rational Account of the Weather by the Rev. Mr POINTER, was published in 1738; and The Shepherd of Banbury's Rules, &c. by JOHN CLARIDGE, in 1744.
The Observations of the Shepherd contained in the latter Treatise, are said to be grounded on no less than 40 years experience; but by comparing them with those contained in the former account, I find almost all his observations to be transcrib'd verbatim from it: and in order to shew this more clearly, I have sent you both their observations, which you may distinguish by different characters.
SHEPHERD.) 1. SUN. If the sun rise red and fiery, - wind and rain.
POINTER.) 1. If the sun at his rising looks red, &c. the air is thickning: and, if the clouds look red at sun-rise, there will be a very great tempest.
2. If cloudy, and it soon decrease, - certain fair weather. Shepherd.
2. If the clouds are driven from the sun-rising, and pass away to the west, it is a sign of fair weather. Pointer.
3. CLOUDS small and round, like a dappley-grey, with a north wind, - fair weather for 2 or 3 days.
3. Clouds appearing like white fleeces of wool, scattered about in the sky, are another sign of fair weather.
4. Large like rocks, - great showers.
4. Clouds appearing like rocks or towers, signify great showers.
5. If small clouds increase, much rain.
5. If small clouds grow bigger and bigger in an hour or two, they signify a great deal of rain.
6. If large clouds decrease, - fair weather.
6. If great clouds separate, waste off, and grow smaller and smaller, this signifies fair weather.
7. MISTS. If they rise from low ground, and soon vanish, - fair weather.
7. If the mists arise out of ponds and rivers, and there vanish away (i.e. are either exhal'd or subside) they signify fair weather.
8. If they rise to the hill tops, - rain in a day or two.
8. But if from thence they are attracted to the tops of hills, 'tis like there will be rain suddenly, either the same day, or commonly within two or three days.
9. A general mist before the sun rises, near the full moon, - fair weather.
9. If before the sun-rising it will be a general mist (both on the hills and vales) near the full moon, it signifies fair weather.
10. If in the new moon, - rain in the old.
10. But if such a mist be in the new of the moon, it signifies rain in the old of the moon.
11. If in the old, - rain in the new.
11. But in the old of the moon, it signifies rain in the new.
12. WINDS. Observe that in eight years time there is as much south west wind as north east, and consequently as many wet years as dry.
12. It has been an observation made by some, that have been very curious observers of the weather for many years, that in eight years time there is as much south and west wind, as north and east wind; and consequently as many wet years as dry.
13. When the wind turns to N. E. and it continues two days without rain, and does not turn south the third day, nor rain the third day, it is likely to continue N. E. for 8 or 9 days, all fair, and then to come to the south again.
13. First, For the N. E. wind: When the wind turns to this point, and continues 2 days without rain, and turns not southward the third day, nor rains, then it is like to continue N. E. for 8 or 9 days without rain, and then return into the S.
14. If it turn again out of the S. to the N. E. and continues in the N. E. 2 days without rain, and neither turns S. nor rains the third day, it is like to continue N. E. for 2 or 3 months. The wind will finish these turns in 3 weeks.
14. If the wind turn out of S. to the N. E. again, and continue in that point without rain for 2 days, and turn not S. the third day, nor rain the third day, iot is like to continue N. E. for 2 months, or 3 for the most part. the wind will finish these turns towards the N. in 3 weeks.
15. S. W. WINDS. After a northerly wind for the most part of 2 months or more, and then coming south, there are usually 3 or 4 fair days at first, and then on the 4th or 5th day comes rain, or else the wind turns north again, and continues dry.
15. 2dly. For the S. W. winds: When the wind has been in the north for two months or more for the most part, and comes to the south, usually there are 3 or 4 fair days at first, and then the 4th or 5th day comes rain, or else the wind turns north, and continues dry still.
16. If it returns to the south within a day or two without rain, and turn northward with rain, and return to the south, * in one or two days, as before (* the first or second day. Pointer.) two or three times together after this
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