Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-06-29

ter, and to ciothe himself for his journey and
lastly, though not least in oar Estimation, il leads
the heTo and the patirottc tame and victory.
Philosophers have discovered many Instruments
by which they are enabled 10 ascertain the Naria-
tons in the weather. These are the barometer,
Thermometer, hydrometcr, and cectrometsr. My
object only To paint out the natural means OK dis
covering these changes They cost netting, conse-
queutiy II isin the power ot every man to- become
acquainted with this part of natural philosophy
l. Prosnostics BY tie leech worm. Place n lee ch
IN a common eight Cu'ise vial, three iourths flied
with water. and covered on the mouth by linen
rag. In warm weather, the water should be chan
gsd every week, and in winter every fortnight
This weather suage will last many years.
u the ~eahsr continues serene and beautiful, the
'sech lissmotonless at the bottom OF the glass, IN
spiral form. If il rains before after noon is
found csept up TO the top OF its lodging, where il
maiss Till the wea,heris settled.
Ii we are 10 have wind, the poor prisoner gallops
through his linpd habitaiion with amazing swift
ess, aad seirom rests I'll Il begins to blow hard
1t remarkable storm o. thunder aud rsin is TO sue
coed, tor some days before, it lodges almost
tnually without the water, and discovers great un-
easness iii violent throes X con,u.sive-ke motions
Ia frost, as IN clear summer weather. il lies constant
" vi the bottom, and IN snow in RAINY weather.
It pitches its dwelling upon the mouth OF t,e phi
al.
9 Prognostics by birds beasts, insects, reptles
plants .sd wood. Ii is well known that birds re-
ty ct oil, which when any unusual degree Of mos
ture rs IN the atmosphere, they squeeze out BY
then bills and pass their feathers in order
to preserve them from the effects of approach
ing shower I his is almost unives sal among the
lea,hered tribe consequently is ofthe best
aud most correct natural means OF sscertsinng the
fall of rain.
In wet weather swallows keepnear the esrth in
pursuit of flies and insects which they prey and
m dry weather from similar they iiy much
higher.
Animals of domestic habits, as cows and sheep,
and the latter in particular, on the approach of
rain, feed with great svdity in the open field, and
retire near the trees and hedg as they are
satisfied In fine weather, they grsse and lounge
about eating and resting alternately, with appsrest
Indifference.
have observed that when the tree frogs
eroaS very much, stormy weather generally fol-
lows
When swine carry straw and other articles to
make beds for themselves, similar change is to be
expected
The farmers ofour state have in use great va
rety of signs arising from the different habits of a.
nimals, by which they are enabled TO prognosticate
the weather almot TO certainty Tie public
would be indebted to them, ifthey would make
their observations generally known.
The different species OF insects and reptiles seek
to avoid falling weather, according to their respec-
tive habits and situations, and in this manner give
notice OF the approaching change.
. me very ingenious and useful experiments
and observations on the commoa house SPIDER were
Iosde by MIR. Disouval, sdiutant general in the
Dutch service, while prisoner.
Against fine weather it peeps out its head, and
stretches It's legs out OF its hole this the more re-
markabys fhe longer the tiue weather is to remain
Against bad weather il goes back, and against very
tempestuous weather turns quite round, shelving
nothing bst its hinder parts to the Observer thus
indicating the new charge of weather. In July,
1875, MIR. ID. declared from the conduct of his
hat a fall g..
rs TO render it passabie by bridge of boats This
declaration Was verified. They are progpcstica-
ters during the winter sessoa. On the approach of
frost or snow they seize upon the webs already
made, IN which csse Obstinate battles en,ue, or
they work almost necessarily at new ones He OBJ
serves hat nise days generally elspse from the
time they are busy to the setting in the frcst.
1t ls remarkable fact, that 20 Mr.. DIS remarks on
tue spider, the French are indebted tor the con-
guest of Holland, in the winter of I794 s. Disiou-
Vafs prison was not so strictly watched in conse-
quence of his keeper ncIinng to the patriotic par
~. Through has nstrumentality he informed the
patriots, that the winter would be so hard that's
the rivers and canals would be psssable on the ice
Dislouval's only hopes Of being liberated from
tedious confinement, rested on the town being Ia
ken by the French, and there is no doubt but ne
watched his little prophets with the eagle eve OF
penetration. In the beginning Of December the
news was brought him that the people talked of
captivating. By this proceeding his hopes of Ii
observations on the spiders. he declared to the
people, that witisiu i0rtnIghta very severe frost
would come on. They believed him, rejscted the
Ides OF captivating, and the 29th of December
the frost was so hard that the French passed the
wall. On the 18th of January the water arose.
which was considered by the aristoer8tic party
AS a certain indication of a thaw Disiouval still
watching his spiders, wrote TO the editor of the u
trecht Gazette, that before the expiration of three
days severer frost than the former would occur
O4 the l4th ofJanuary the wind rose, on the 18Th
1t froze, and on the 10th the French entered u
trecht; thus the prisoner reganed his liberty -
DisJouvss gratitude to the French general induced
h'Ia to pay strict attention to his SPIDERS that he
might give him every Information in his power, SO
'mportsnt to him in his daring enterprise.
Ky sudden thaw on the Goth January the pc
Rersi was alarmed for the fate Of an army of an
hundred thousand men. with train of artillery,
and was thinking OF speedy retreat. Disioiiya.
had recourse 10 his spiders they forefod frost.
He sent couple to the Ere Beh general they
were credited, their prophecies were fulfilled, and
the French conquered Holland. The Executive
Directory ofFnnce, from this circumstance insti-
tuted an enquiry into this branch of KNOWLEDGE
The down of the dandelioB is materially affected
by the moisture, and the pmpernal or, ssit is CON-
moniy called, the peep Of day, or Shepherds wea-
tber glass, ssuis IFS leaves before rain.
wood OF every description expands during moist
damp weather, the vapours isnuate the mseyes I'M
to the pores OF trees, and also into the wood work
Of hons, s..
Indications by the clouds, &e. When the
clouds are formed like heeces, deep and dense to-
wards the middle, aud white edges, with BRIGHT
blue sky about them, they soon fall in hail, snow or
quick showers of rain.
Different currents Of clouds, especially iC the
undermost fly fast before wind, is pretty oertain
sign n rain. This occurring In the summer sea-