Theophrastus, De Signis Tempestatum

Σημεῖα ὑδάτων καὶ πνευμάτων καὶ χειμώνων καὶ εὐδιῶν ὧδε ἐγράψαμεν καθʼ ὅσον ἦν ἐφικτὸν, ἃ μὲν αὐτοὶ προσκοπήσαντες ἃ δὲ παρʼ ἑτέρων οὐκ ἀδοκίμων λαβόντες. Τὰ μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἄστροις δυομένοις καὶ ἀνατέλλουσιν ἐκ τῶν ἀστρονομικῶν δεῖ λαμβάνειν.

Signs of rains and winds and storms and fair weather we have written down as follows, so far as was possible, some observed by ourselves, others taken from others of good repute. Those, then, that depend on the setting and rising of the stars must be taken from the astronomical writings.

Ἡ Εὔβοια ὅταν διαζωσθῇ μέση ὕδωρ διὰ ταχέων. Καὶ ἐὰν ἐπὶ τὸ Πήλιον νε͂ φέλη προσίζῃ ὅθεν ἂν προσίζῃ ἐντεῦθεν ὕδωρ ἢ ἄνεμον σημαίνει. Ὅταν ἶρις γένηται ἐπισημαίνει· ἐάν τε πολλαὶ ἴριδες γένωνται σημαίνει ὕδωρ ἐπὶ πολύ. Ἀλλὰ πολλάκις καὶ οἱ ὀξεῖς ἥλιοι ὅταν ἐκ νεφέλης. Πύρμηκες ἐν κοίλῳ χωρίῳ ἐὰν τὰ ὠὰ ἐκφέρωσιν ἐκ τῆς μυρμηκιᾶς ἐπὶ τὸ ὑψηλὸν χωρίον ὕδωρ σημαίνουσιν, ἐὰν δὲ καταφέρωσιν εὐδίαν. Ἐὰν παρήλιοι δύο γένωνται καὶ ὁ μὲν νοτόθεν ὁ δὲ βορρᾶθεν, καὶ ἅλως ἅμα ὕδωρ διὰ ταχέων σημαίνουσι. Καὶ ἅλως αἱ μέλαιναι ὑδατικὸν καὶ μᾶλλον αἱ δείλης.

When Euboea is girdled across the middle [with cloud], rain soon. And if a cloud settles on Pelion, from whichever side it settles, from there it signifies rain or wind. When a rainbow appears, it gives a sign; and if many rainbows appear, it signifies rain for a long time. But often also the sharp suns, when out of a cloud. If ants in a hollow place carry their eggs out of the ant-hill to the high place, they signify rain, but if they carry them down, fair weather. If two mock suns appear, one to the south and the other to the north, and a halo at the same time, they signify rain soon. And black haloes are a sign of rain, and more so those in the late afternoon.