The North-Carolina standard., 1837-11-15
INDICATIONS oF THE CHANGE or
Es.tSsz .a.s w z ESATIIEF eSssfs


I The peculiar feelings Of aneasiness experien-I
aced.hy invalds and indeed by many persons in /
perfcei heafih during certain siates Of the at
mosphefe maY iairfY Head us to suppose that
aninuls mfist be alse Influenced in similar
manner; and The regularity withs which the
functions talff their purpose being in this case
uncti,rcfa,d byaintrIieetual agency animals
manifest the result Of any variation 10 that
regularity by corresponding deviation from
their usual habits Now, though we know no
thing ofthe connection between the atmospheric
| changes and their effects on organized bodies,
we may safely and wisely trust to such deyia-
lions from the regular habits OF animals, as In.
1dicating such cause. and MS well deserving OF
attention, provided we do not suffer our Judg-
,nent TO be blasted by any irrelevant associations
of any kind. The following few observations
on the influence of change the weather on
man and certain animals. have been made in all
ages, and therefore, may be safely taken as gen
orally correct, and as illustrating this subject ia
4 An unusual hustle is observed among ants,
bees, and wasps at their nests; spiders come out
of their recesses. and are seen crawling about at
night; flies of all kinds are more active, and
4 sting or bite before rain. When gnats fly IN
compact bodies in the beams of the setting sun,
it indicates fine weather but If they retire un-
der the shade oftrees at evening, rain may be
Expected. Snails and slugs appear in greater
). numbers in damp weather. and. therefore. before
as we'll as after ram and frogs are more lively
and elamorous in the ponds and marshes at the
:. same time.
j The habits of insecliveorous birds and beasts
l will be modified by changes in the weather. &C.
cording as those changes influence the insects
which are theirprey; thus swallows fly low be-
[ fore rain. because the insects which they chase
and capture on the wing approach near the
, earth at that time. For similar reason bats
being observed to fit long and late in twiligh,
, is considered a sign of fair day on the NOR.
t row; and they do SO, because in calm and set.
tied weather, gnats, dorbeetles, and other insects
$ remain long on the wing in the evening On
the contrary, bats retiring early to their haunts
, show that their food is not to be met with, on
account of approaching wet and, since this
ped, the cries OF bats, under these circumstances
, have probably, been regarded as just prog
: noslic of rain. =,
1t has been observed that fish aae eager in bi
!. ting at flies at the surface OF the water, and more
/, active before rain for similar reason. -
Rocks return to their nests sooner than usual
: when the grubs in the cornfield bury themselves
| deeper in the earth against change; but why
these birds circiing in theair and descending to
the earth successively in focks is considered as
oEinous of wet we know not, nor do we profess
to vouch for the fact.
/ But besides being influenced by the abundance
t or scarcity of their food. notifications in the
state Of the air act on the lower animals, and in
duce them to utter cries. or express their pleasure
or pain, in an unwonted manner. Asses are OBJ
served TO bray more and to be more irritable be-
fore wet. --e+-
The uneasiness of pigs before storm has
81 been theme Of amusement in rural lie quite
long enough to attest the truth Of the observation
. and sailors expect one when porpoises and dol
: phins gambol at the surface of the sea.
Peacoe,,s and guinea-owls and many otbe,
birds, particularly clamorous before rain, and
> the domestic cock manilests uneasiuess by fire.
quent growing
Cattle leave off feeding, and chase one another
in their pasture at such times.