Ancient man attempted to change the weather by using magic.
While experience taught him this was impossible, __1__
he tried to forecast weather conditions. Even earlier in __2__
1000 B.C.there were weather seers in Babylon----and priests
clever enough to denounce as frauds those predicted __3__
the weather a year in the advance. Some forecasters used __4__
methods that seemed to take no connection with the actual __5__
factors controlled the weather. Chickens and other animals __6__
were sacrificed and their intestines poked to find signs
indicating rain and drought. Somewhat more scientific were __7__
predictions based on vegetation:"Onion's skin very thin ,mild
weather coming in. Onion's skin thick and tough, coming
weather is cold and rough." Insects and animals were also __8__
favorite weather clues: "Before the glowworm lights his lamp, __9__
then the air is always damp ." "If spiders their cobwebs forsake ,
the weather will for certain break ." "If frogs remained in pools ,
the weather will be fine . If they were seen on rocks, __10__
rain and cold were due." It's difficult to say whether this rhyme
should be taken seriously : " Hark , I hear the asses bray .
Me thinks we'll have some rain today ."