ing while the sun
is shining seems to have so attracted the attention of the human mind as
to have given rise to various sayings.

A native of Western Africa told me that among his tribe, the Vey people,
it was always said when the sun shone as rain fell that it was a sign
that a leopardess had just given birth to young.

In Japan the occurrence is said to indicate that a wedding procession of
foxes is passing near by, and the children have a pretty habit of running
to the supporting pillars of the house, to place the ear against the
timbers and listen for the footfalls of the foxes. The little people also
interlace their fingers in a certain way, then peeping through the chinks
between the fingers they declare they can see the wedding-train.

Nos. 1020-1028.--The mackerel sky is a name given to an assemblage of
cirrus clouds which are thought to imitate the barred markings on the
side of a mackerel. Mares' tails are wisp-like, curved cirri.

CHAPTER XV.--To illustrate the remarkable prevalence of a regard for the
phases of the moon in the management of every-day affairs among the
Pennsylvania Germans, the following list of their beliefs is appended.
All are from Buffalo Valley, Central Pennsylvania.[157-1]

THE MOON.

All cereals, when planted in the waxing of the moon, will germinate more
rapidly than if planted in the waning of the moon.

The same is true of the ripening of grain.

Beans planted when the horns of the moon are up will readily pole, but if
planted when the horns are down will not.

Plant early potatoes when the horns of the moon are up, else they will go
too deep into the ground.

Plant late potatoes in the dark of the moon.

For abundance in anything, you must plant it when the moon is in the sign
of the Twins.

Plant onions when the horns of the moon are down.

Pick apples in the dark of the moon, to keep them from rotting.

Make wine in the dark of the moon.

Make vinegar in the light of the moon.

Marry in the light of the moon.

Move in the light of the moon.

Butcher in the increase of the moon.

Boil soap in the increase of the moon.

Cut corn in the decrease of the moon, else it will spoil.

Spread manure when the horns of the moon are down.

Lay the first or lower rail of a fence when the horns of the moon are up.
Put in the stakes and finish the fence when the horns are down.

Roof buildings when the horns of the moon are down, else the shingles
will curl up at th