Sacramento daily record-union., 1884-06-16
CHEAP BAROMETERS.
How Tempest and Sunshine are ForetOld
by Animals


How Tempest and Sunshine are ForetOld
by Animals.
Weather, fair or foul, is predicted by the
conduct of animals. Snails cats, dogs
horses, geese, fishes, ants, gnats, asses,
birds, swallows, crows, cattle-all will pre-
dict the weather if YOU understand their
language. In large glass jar that sat in a
window-sill of an Eighth-street residence
an Enquirer man saw a small ladder, not
over foot long, reaching to the top, and
two tree-toads frisking about in the water,
which about half filled the jar. An old
German, spectacled and dressed in long
double-gown, was eagerly watching the
motions of the batrachianS
Those are queer pets, DOCTOR" re-
marked the scribe
Pets They are not pets. They are
my barometers. They tell me with accu-
racy when the weather is to be fair or foul.
If dry weather is coming on they climb
the ladder away out of the water, but if it
is going to rain, then down they 90 into
water"
But what do they have to eat?" asked
the visitor, observing nothing edible in
their improvised cage.
You should see them 90 for flies said
the doctor, at the same moment tossing
one of the toads with the rapidity of light
ming. That will keep the toad alive for
week, but each one of them will eat ten or
twelve day if anyone would catch them
for them
A cheap barometer, if it only tells the
truth"
Nothing better, sir; there are few animals
that do not have the instinct. or knowl-
edge, if you will to predict either a storm
or fair weather. have given the subject
much study, and find my observations are
in accord with many old savings and pro-
verbs relating to weather-wise animals
There's the snail. | do not know of any
surer way of predicting the changes in the
weather than by observing their habits
closely. They do not drink, but i'm
bibe moisture during rain and exude it
atterward. This animal is never seen
abroad, except before rain, when you will
see it climbing the bark of trees and getting
on the leaves. The tree-snail, as it is called,
two days before rain, will climb up the
stems of plants, and if the rain is going to
be hard and long one, then they get on
the sheltered side of a leaf, but if a short
rain, on the outside. Then there are other
species that before a rain are yellow; after
it blue. Others indicate rain by holes and
protuberances, which before a rain rise as
large tubercleS. These will begin 70 show
themselves ten days before a rain. AT the
end of each tubercle is pore, which opens
when the rain comes. to absorb and draw
in the moisture. In other snails deep in
dentations, beginning at the head between
the horns, and ending with the ointure at
the tail, appear few days before a storm
Then there are other animals which are
good weather prophets. The old adage
says:
When that the ass begins to bray
Be sure We shall have rain that day
And there is another one equally en-
phatic, which every haymaker knows:
Be sure to cock your hay and corn,
When the old donkey blows his horn.
Yes sir; nearly all animals have some
way of telling the weather in advance"
Is it instinct, or do they perceive ap-
preaching signs more keenly than people?"
That's hard to answer. 1t may be that
the altered condition of the atmosphere
with regard to electricity, which generally
accompanies changes of weather, makes
them feel disagreeable or pleasant The
fact that cat licks herself before a storm
is urged by some naturaliS,s as proof of the |
special influence of electricity Man is not
so sensitive. Yet many people feel listless
before Storm to say nothing of aggra-
waited headaches, toothaches, rheumatic
pains, and last, but not least corns."
Birds ought to be good weather prog
nosticators, then, for they cannot be insen-
Sible to air currents and the different eli
mates of the atmosphere?'
Most assrredly they are the very best
Every farmer knows when swallows fly low |
that rain is coming; sailors, when the sea-
gulls fly toward the land; when the stormy |
petrol appears, or Mother Carey's chickens |
as hey are called, predict foul weather |
Take the ants. Have you never noticed |
the activity they display before a storm, |
hurry -scurry, rushing hither and yon, as if |
they were letter-carriers making six trips a |
day, or expressmen behind time? Dogs |
grow sleepy and dull, and like to lie before !
a fire as rain approaches; chickens pick up |
pebbles, fowls roll in the dust, flies sting |
and bite more yiciously, frogs croak more
gnats assemble under trees |
and horses display restlessness."
How do you tell fair weather?'
Beetles flying late in the evening fore
tell fine day on the morrow; bats fitting |
about late in the evening in spring or
autumn; butterflies appearing early; |
cranes flying high; fish when they swim |
low and won't bite. Hogs when they run
Squawking about, and won't bite, and !
jerk up their heads, and see a wind COM
ing, hence the proyerb, Pigs can see the
wind
Are any other animals weatherwise ?'
would like to know what animals are
not, if a man only had the patience to watch |
and observe them. When you see a swan
flying against the wind, spiders crowding
on wall, toadS coming out of their holes |
in unusual numbers of an evening, worms,
slugS, and snails appearing, robin red |
breasts pecking at our windows, pigeons |
coming to the dove-cote earlier than usual |
peacockS squalling at night, mice squeak |
ing or geese washing, you can put them all |
down for rain signs. Did you never read |
DR.. Darwin's poetical description of the
rain ?"
Never heard of it
well, its often quoted, and is remark
ably correct. Here it is
The hollow winds begin to blow:
The clouds look black, the glass is low:
The scot falls down, the spaniels sleep,
And spiders from their cobwebs creep:
The walls are damp. the bitches smell:
Clos'd is the light red pimpernel.
Hark how the chairs and tables crack;
Old Betty joints are on the rack,
Hercorns with shooting pains torment her,
And to her bed untimely send her.
Loud quack the ducks, the sea fowls cry,
The distant hills are looking nigh.
How restless are the snorting swine;
The busy flies disturb the kline.
Low o er the grass the swallow wings;
The cricket, too, how sharp he sings.
Plss on the hearth with velvet paws
Sits wiping DER her whiskerd jaws.
Twill surely come, we sect with sorrow,
No working in the fields tomorrow
Tfjnpinnati EputIirpr