The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-10
The soientino Convention.
WeotksY Piophteiss. Iadioo, Of WtsAer as "e'on 6g
dsimaIs, Insects. and Plants.

Weosr RI opheess Indications Of Wtsher as Me'e" oy
dainsats, Insects. ana Fia"S.
BY VIM H. b. THOMAS. or CINCINNATI
The possbiy OF oretelliDg weather has occupied the
attention OF observers Of natoIal laels nom me
is lived al this subject ike all DINER paris OF nalu-
raj science depends upon the knowledge acquired OF
those things with which Nature has most intimately con-
necled IL.
Without INDUCING in any comment | will state few
particulars in regard 10 the different indicators with which
Nature has supplied us.
When pair of migratory birds have arrived in the
spring, they immediately prepare 10 build their nest
king careful reconnaissance OF the place. and obsery-
ing the character of the season that is coming II IL be
windy they thatch the straw and leaves on the in
side Of the nest, between the twgs and the Innings and
be very windy they get plant twgs and bind the nest
hrmy 10 the limbs, securing all the small twgs with
their salivas II they fear the approach OF rainy sea-
son. they build their 10 be sheltered from the
weather; but II pleasant one they build In the fair,
open place. without taking any OF those extra precau-
TONS Ia recording these facts, have kept only regis
tered the name OF the birds the time OF arrival IN spring
the commencement OF nestng the materials OF nest and
lis position; the commencement OF laying number OF
eggs IN each nest; commencement OF incubauoni APP
peaIance OF young departure IN autumn
But Is our insects and smaller animals which furnish
US with the best means Of determining the weather
We will now take the snas and show the various
phenomena they present These animals do not dnnk,
but imbibe moisture in their bodies during rain AT
regular periods after the rain they exude this moisture
from their bodies We will take, Tor example, the HELM
Atrnata. The first fluid exudei is the pure liquid.
When this is exhausted i then changes TO light red.
then deep red then yellow, and last to dark brown.
The Helix is very careful not TO exude more OF its moist
than is necessary. II mde exude il all at once, but
this is not in conformity TO its general character this
nate lie never abroad except before rain, when
find it ascending the bark of trees and getting on the
leaves
The Helix Arborea Indeataa, Rndera and Minuta are
also ascending the stems OF plants two days before
rain The Heces Clausa. Ligera, Pennsy vanica, and
elevate generally begin 70 crawl abou, two days before
the rain will descend. They ascending the stems
Of plants II il be long and hard RAM they get the
sheltered side of the leaf; but if short one they get
the outside. The Luccinea have also the same habits.
differing only in color OF animals before the rain il is
Of yellow color. while after j, is a blue.
The Helices Solitara, Zee,a Albolabrs, ard Thyro-
ideus, not only show by means OF exuding fluids, but by
means OF pores pOtuberances. Before rain, the bodies
Of Zee,a and H. Thyrodeus have large tuberces arising
from them
These tuberclcs commence showing themselves ten
days previous 10 the fall OF rain they indicate. Al the
the fall Of the rain, these luberces with their pores
opened stretched 10 their utmost 10 receive water.
Also. for few days before rain, large and deep
ndena''on appears IN the a. Ihyfodeas and beginning
jonture at the she'll The Helces Soara and Zeleta.
few days before rain crawl TO the most exposed hill
side where they arrive before the ram dsscends they
ture of the she with glutDoUs substances which, when
the rain approaches, they dissolve, and then
crawling about.
after rain. while before they grow smaller, and at the
time OF the rain the body of the snail is filled with
ties 10 receive the moisture.
The ii. Zelea, Thyroideue, and Alboabris move
along at the rate Of mile in forty.four hours They
inhab the most dense forests. and we regard il as a
indication OF rain 10 see them moving toward
posed situation.
The Helices APpresss, Trdenata, Falla and Palia,a
indicate the weather not only by exudng fluids, but by
the color OF the animal After rain the animal has a
very dark appearance, but it OF brighter color as
the water expended, while Just before the rain is OF
yellowish white color. Aleo, Just before rain sra
observed 10 appear from the point of the head TO the
oinure OF the she'll The superior ienacua sre stated
and the sides covered with tuberces These Helces
hours. If they observed ascending the cliff. il is
indication OF rain. They live in the cavities in the
sides Of CLIFF.
The Helix Hrsuia is Of black color after rain but
before il is OF brown. tnged with blue around the
edges of the animal. The tenacula are marked by a
strs and there is also to be seen few days be-
fore the rain, ndentaon, which grows deeper as the
rain approaches. This helix also exudes fluids bat no,
with the changes OF color Of those before mentioned.
We can also forele change Of weather by the wasps
and other insects
The leaves Of trees good baromeers most OF
them, for short light RAIN will turn up to receive
their fill of Water but for long they are so doub.
led up as TO conduct the water away.
The Rama, Bufo and Hyla are also sure indications OF
rain, for they do not drink water, hut absorb into
their bodies they be found the time they
expect rain.
The locnsts and gryus also good indications OF 4
storm. Il few hours before the rain they are TO be
nund under the leaves OF and in the hollow trunk
We have many times found them thus but we have
known the instinct OF these little fellows 10 lead them
to unnecessary caution.