The cloud "Mare's tail", accompanied by "mackerel-back" clouds, indicates stormy weather:—
"Mackerel backs and mares' tails
Makes lofty ships carry low sails."[1]
There is a particular form of the "Mare's tail" cloud called by the fishermen about Peterhead "the white mare's tail", which they look upon as the sure indication of a coming gale.
When "the sky upsets" towards the north, that is, when large masses of cloud of different hues rise towards the north, or, according to an expression sometimes used, "when rawns are roastin'", from the reddish hues in the clouds, with the wind from the south, the wind for a time overcomes the clouds; but the saying is: "There's warin' atween the north an the south, an there 'ill be nae peace till the north get the victory." The wind goes round to the north, and blows a breeze, it may be for a day or two. When it appears as a big solid mass—as some call it "a kiltin"—and, as it were, not far off, the storm is close at hand[2] (Rosehearty).
When a haze covers the whole sky during moonlight, so as to partially darken the moon, the saying is: "The meen's wydin'" (wading)—rain follows, or snow, if during winter (Keith, inland).
X.— Mist.
A black, wetting mist always goes off with a breeze (Rosehearty).
When mist appears on Mormond, the saying is: "Mormond hiz on 's caip (cap) and rain is near at hand" (Pittulie), particularly if the wind blows from the south. When mist appears on the Knock and Bin, two hills in Banffshire some miles inland, during spring and summer,
