The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1857-12-02
Muskrat Science.

We have often been amused to hear weather
sages or wizards pretend to knowledge of the
future for season of several months. In the
fall of the year it seems to be the ambition of
these prophets to tell us exactly what kind of
winter we arc to have. To give their pre-
dictions some color of probability the "corn
husks' are appealed to to testify, the bees are
closely observed, and the Muskrats are brought
into court as witnesses that can not lie. If the
houses of these sagacious little workers are
observed to be light and thin it is indisputable
thereafter that the winter is to be mild-if
thick or heavily thatchcd, n cold, severe winter
is inevitable. So too with regard to dry or
wet season ; our infallble guides, the Muskrats
aforesaid, indicate by the height to which their
buildings are erected whether the summer is to
be rainy Or drouthy
We notice a few of our exchanges referring
to these signs as Of some probable value in de-
termining the character of the winter and the
general conclusion arrived at is that we must
have an "open winter" The Madison argus
explains the manner is which the corn dresses
itself with husks and very scnsiby concludes
the thickness or thinness Of that protecting
wrapper derends more upon the kind of weather
that is past, than upon that which is to come
an opinion which every one will subscribe to
who refers demonstrated fact to an indemon
strablc theory bearing the character of mystery
The corn Of thrifty farmer in Iowa or Wis
10 -, Gel Ill
ter any way-its husk it is well aware will be
stripped from the yellow grain and thrown to
the hogs aud cattle and "prodigal sons and
we can see no reason why it should provide it.
self with covering extraordinary for the sea-
son of severity "when all experience hath
shown that its coat whether thick or thin is as
sure to come off it's back in October as the far
mer and his boys arc alive and well
But the Science of the Muskra,s is based not
so much upon a provision of nature, as upon the
assumed instructive knowledge of the animal,
and here we are met with the remark that
observation teaches every one that the animal
creation have some knowledge of the future,
and if the geese in their noisy playfulncss adj
wise US Of the approach of welcome rain in
summer, why may not the water or musk rat
be able to scan the future for months and pre-
pare his dwelling for the character Of the wealth.
er to come Instinct in the lower order of
animals is simply the reason which their neces.
sites require, and when We see it even feebly
evinced we are apt to remark and remember it
as something extraordinary. The movements
and changes of habits in animals are caused by
their immediate and not their prox;mate wants.
This is true EXCEPT in rare instances such as
the laying up Of honey by bees, and the nut
storing by the striped squirrel &C., but the idea
that an unreasoning animal can come TO cor
rect conclusion as to what sort of weather we
are going to have is dish-water Of the weakest
possible quality. Martins, robbins and other
birds often come north in the Spring, prepare to
build their nests, and we have known the lat
ter to lay eggs and at last be driven back to
mere Southern cline by the SHOWS of May -
They were a little too fast for Flora. A musk.
rat knows as little of the future as any other
rat where the family is large the house Or
s'uCh bhcs OuiAu IL i't ~ uAso Dut IL Ielc Shouiu
be but few in pond, they can not do the
amount of work which strong force could
and hence their castles are low. If
their horses were never entirely overaown, as
all of us have seen them, we might admit at
least that they were good guessers, bat otscrra.
ton tells US that
s.The best laid schemes o. rats and men
Gang aft ngley.''
and common sense teaches us that the animal
creation don't know any more about the future
than do other folks.
Hun,bugs of all kinl are giving way before
the blows Of Truth and as we are fearful some
of our little readers might be inclined to swal.
low the follies Of weather prophets and grow up
the slaves to mere nursery tale, we have said
our say on the Mrskrat and corn husk ques-
tions. The best way to find out what kind of a
winter we arc going to have is to get up good
pile of wood, make good sheds tor the cattle,
provide plenty of food for the tenants of the
House and barn, subscribe for good paper,
Che Times for iIstance) and let Winter
come in any share he wants to. But above all
things don't exchange your own judgments for
the teachings of a rat, or the accidents Of
corn husk