Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-11-09
WEATHERWISE.
General HaEeh's New Book Of
Proverbs for Guessing Rt the
Weather.

A very interesting volume has been
issued, according TO the title page, by the
Omitted States of America, War De-
partment," entitled "Signal Service
Notes, No. 8. Weather Proverbs, pre-
pared under the direction of General
Aazen, Chief Signal Officer" The vol
ume contains IA pages, and consists of
weather proverbs relating TO foretelling
weather by the actions of birds. fish, frogs,
insects and reptiles, the condition or APP
pearance Of fogs, dew, rainbows, storms,
thunder and lightning, trees and wind.
The reason for the publication seems
to be the lament that 1.-THE able
meteorologists Of to-day, by the
most pc feet meteorological instru-
ments, and the results of years
of accurate instrumental observa-
ions, are still unable TO give reliable
forecasts of the weather for a longer
period than two or three days, and
frequently not longer than twenty-four
hours" 1t is, therefore, thought to be
possible that a more accurate observation
of the condition Of plants or the condition
and action Of animals" might help the
signal Office out.
The following about the movements of
animals are fair specimens OF this official
book Of weather proverbs:
When cats sneeze it is a sign Of rain.
The cardinal point TO which cat turns
aud washes her face after q rain, shows
the direction from which the wind will
blow.
When cats are snoring foul weather
follows.
Cats with their tails up and hair appa-
rently electrified, indicates approaching
wind,
Its a sign Of rain II cat washes her
head behind her ear.-[0ld lady on Cape
Cod.
When cat scratches itself or scratches
on log or tree, II indicates approaching
rain.
When a cat washes her face with her
back 10 the FIRE, expect thaw, in winter,
When cats lie on their head, and mouth
turned up, expect storm.
Cats have the reputation Of being wealth
erwise, an old notion, which has given
rise to most extensive folklore. IL Is
almost universally believed that good
weather may be expected when the cat
washes herself but bad when she ticks
her coat against the grain, or washes her
face over her ears, or sits with her tail TO
the fire., As, too, the cat is supposed not
only TO have knowledge Of the state OF
the weather, but certain share in the
arrangement Of II Is considered by sailors
TO be most unwise TO provoke cat.
When COW stops and shakes her foot
II indicates that there Is bad weather be-
hind her,
When cattle collect near the barn long
before night, and remain near the barn
till late in the morning, expect a severe
winter.
Cattle are also said TO foreshow rain
when they lick their four feet, or lie on
their right side, or scratch themselves
more than they usually do against posts
or other objects.
Hares take to the open country before a
snow storm.
Hogs rubbing themselves In winter in
dictates an approaching thaw.
In cold, long winters rabbits are fat In
October aud November In mild, pleasant
winters they are poor in those months.
Rabbits seek the woods before a sewers
storm.
When tho spaniel sleeps 1t indicates
rain.
Owl hooting indicates rain.
fowls hot at night expect fair weather.
When an owl hoots or screeches sitting
on the top Of house or by the side Of a
window II Is said 10 forelell death.
When the roostors 60 growing 10 bed,
they will rise with watery head.
! liza rooster crows on the ground, Il Il a
sign Of rain; II he crows on the fence, II Is
q sign Of fair weather
The following proverbs relate 10 thun-
der and lightning
{ the birds be silent expect thuader.
If cattle run around and collect to-
gether In the meadows expect thunder
IL the first thunder Is IN the east, ahal
the bear has stretched his right arm and
comes forth, and the winter Is over
/ [Zuni Indians.
II the FIRST thunder Is in the north, ahal
tho bear has stretched bis leh Log 10 biz
winter bed.
Thunder and lightning on the northern
lakes IN November is an indication that
the lake will remain open until the mid.
die Of December, or until Christmas-said
10 be reliable.
II the first thunder Is in the south, aha
the bear has stretched his right leg In his
winter bod. -lZuni Indians
II the first thunder Is In the west,
aha the bear has stretched bis left arm
IN his winter bod.-fZuni Indians.
An easy splitting log indicates rain.
All IN All, u Is one ofthe most romArk-
able books which the Government has
Issued. In the matter Of interest Il Il
much more entertaining than the hand
book Published last year Thus far, II
il the champion annual Of the important
service.
General Hazen deems II necessary 10