The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-04-10
AS WEATHER INDICATORS.

ANIMALS AS WEATHER INDICATORS.
An indefatigabls meteoIoloeist has
gathered some curioss observations on
certain animals whot by some peculiar
sensibility to eleciiesf or other AZ.
m%"spheric influence, often Indicate
changes of the weather by fiieir' peculiar
motions and habits. Thus:
ANTs.-An universal bust1e and ac.
tlvity observed 10 ant hills may BE gen.
orally regarded as a sign of rats the
ants frequently appear all in motion to.
gether, and carry their eggs abous from
place to place. This is remarked by
Virgil, Pliny, and others.
BATS fitting about late in the evening.
in spring aud autumn, %foretell a iue DIV
on the morrow ; as do some insects. Or
the contrary, whep bats return soon to
their hiding places aud send forth loud
cries. bad weather may be expected.
BEETLES flying about late in the even
ing often %ioreteIl a fine day on the morrow.
BUTTERFLIES, when they appear early.
are sometimes forerunners of 6ne weather.
MOTHS and SPHINxEs also foretell fine,
weather when they are common in the
evening.
CATS, when they "wash their faces"
or when they seem sleepy and dull,
%foretell rain.
CHICKENS. when they pick up smalE
stones and pebbles, and are more noisy
than usual, afford a sign of rain /; as do.
fowls rubbing in the dust and clapping
their wings but this applies to several
kinds Of fowls. as we'll as to the,
sallinaceous kinds. Cocks, when thew
crow at unwonted hours, often ~foretell
rain when they crow all day, in summer
particularly, a change to rain irequantly
follows.
DoLPHINs, as well as PoRPoIsEs, when
they come about a ship, and sport and
ganbol on the surface of the water,
betuken a storm.
Docs. before rain, grow sleepy and
dull, lie d~rowsiiy before the fire, and are
not easily aroused. They also often eat.
grass, which indicates that their stomachs,
like ours, are apt to be disturbed before
change of weather. 1t is said to be a
sign OF change of weather when dogs howl
and bark much in the night. Dogs also.
dig in the earth with thvir feet before.
rain, and often make deep holes in the
ground.
DUCKs-The loud and elamorous
cackliDg of ducks, geese, and other water
flows. is a sign of rain as also when they
wash themselves and futter about 10 the
water more than usual. Vigil has we'll
described all I'll ese habits of aquatic birds.
FISHES. when they bite more readily
and gamhol near the surface OF streams
or pools foreshow rain.
FLIES, and various sorts of insects, be-
come more troublesome, and sting and
bite more than usual, before as we'll as in
the intervals of rainy weather, particularly
IN autumn.
FRoGs, by their clamorous croakiug,
indicate rainy weather; as does likewise
their coming about in great numbers in
he evening-this last sign az plies mole
obviously to toads.
GEESE, washing or taking wing with a
clamoruus noise and flying to The water,
p"rte rain.
CHATS afford several indications. Wh.n
they fly 10 a vortex in the bt ams OF the
setting sun. they forebode fair weather;
when they Irisk about more widely in the
open air at eventlde, they io~reshadow
heat aud when they assemble under
trees, and bite more than usual, they in
dictate rain.
Hoes, when they shake the stalks of
corn and spoil them, often indicate rain.
/ W hen they run squeaking about, and
jerk up their heads, windy weather is
about to
HoRsEs ~foretell the coming Of rain by
starting more than ordinarily, and by
restleSsDess on the road.
kline (catrle) are said to ioreshadow
rain when they lick their ~Goreieet, or lay
on their right side. Some say oxen lick
ing themselves against The hair is a sign
OF wet.
Nice, when they squeak much and
gambol in the house, @iortell a change Of
weather, and often rain.
Owls When an owl boots or
screeches, sitting on the top of the house
or by the side of II window, a change Of
weather may be looked for.
PEAcocKs squalllug by night often
@loretell a rainy day.
PIGEONS 1t is a sign of rain when
pigeons return slowly to the dove houses
before the usual time of day.
ToADs, when they come from their
holes in an unusual number 10 the even
lns, although the ground be still dry,
foreshow the coming rain, which will,
generally, fall more or less during the
night.