Cirrus clouds indicate both storms and
clear weather, according to their ap
pearance. If they appear in their most
delicate forms after stormy weather,
they are a sign that a period of settled
weather is at hand. When they show
themselves in parallel streaks after fair
weather has lasted for some time, they
are the first indication of approaching
change. Cirri, when greatly tangled
and knotted, show stormy weather close
at hand. If their borders grow faint
and indistinct, there is rain coming.
Cumulus clouds are characteristic of
summer. Ihe farmers call them thun
der heads when they poke their smooth,
white, ronnded summits, glittering in
the sun hke silver, above the horizon.
In that form they are the forerunners
of local thunder storms. The.se moun
tainous-looking clouds sometimes act
ually exceed the greatest peaks of the
Andes or Himalayas in size. hen
cumulus clouds appear in a warm,
pleasant dav, not verv large, tushuct
though soft in outline, and resembling
cotton balls, they indicate continue!
fair, dry weather. On the other hand,
when they grow larger, darker, and
more formidable looking they foretell
storms. Jnst before a rain they some
times seem to throw off little fleecy
clouds around their edges. Goethe,
the great German poet, who was fond of
studying the clouds, said that as long as
cumuli have sharply defined borders and
a white color a continuance of good
weather may be expected. Cumulus
clouds often form soon after sunrise and
temper the heat of the summer day. If
they gradually disappear toward even
ing the weather will remain serene, but
u as the sun goes down thev grow duik
er and more numerous, then look out for
rain.
