In fair weather, when the mercury falls much and low, and thus continues for two or three days before the rain comes, then expect a great deal of wet, and probably high winds. The unsettled motions of the mercury denotes uncertain and changeable weather. When the thermometer and barometer rise together in summer, with rain in large drops, a wholesome state of the atmosphere is at hand. A great and sudden rising of the barometer, that is to say, a great accession of atmospherical pressure, will, in some persons, occasion a slight temporary difficulty of hearing and tingling in the ears, similar to that which is experienced in descending from high mountains, or from the air in balloons. Beetles flying about late in an evening often foretell a fine day on the morrow.
Calms are forerunners of the hurricanes of the West Indies, and other tropical climes.
Candles , as well as lamps, often afford good prognostics of weather. When the flames of candles flare and snap, or burn with an unsteady or dim light, rain, and frequently wind also, are found to follow. The excrescences from the wicks called funguses also denote rain and wind. Cats are said, when they wash their faces, or when they seem sleepy and dull, to foretell rain. The same is said of them when they appear irritable and restless, and play with their tails.