Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-20
WEATHER FORECASTS.
SOME CURIOUS OLO-TiMs METZ
GEOLOGICAL PREDICTIONS.


Long before national weather bureau
telegraphed all over the country its predic-
tions as TO whether tomorrow would bs
stormy, showery, cloudy or fine, or Wig
gins began to announce-never 10 come
earthquakes which were to shake continent,
or cyclones and hurricanes which were to
blow away cities households were governed
by a set of rules i'll the battles Of the ele-
ments These rules are to De found in hand
hooks published as late as half century
ago, and some of them are very curious.
They number nearly 30, some relating TO
the movements Of clouds and winds others
tc the appearance OF the sun and moon, and
others to the actions Of various animals, in
Cluding insects and birds and by them the
ancient Virgins foretOld when storm was
at hand. Some Of the curious rules, many Of
which are still referred to in the conversation
of everyday life were as follows:
II spiders, in spinning their webs, make
the termination filaments long, we may, in
proportion TO their length, conclude that the
weather will be severe and continue so for
ten or twelve days.
If there are no falling stars to be seen on a
bright summers evening, you may look for
fine weather.
Spiders generally alter their web once in
"a hours; if they do this between and in
the evening there will be a fine night if they
alter their web in the morning, expect fine
day; if they work during rain, expect fine
weather; and the more active and busy the
spider Is the finer will lie the weather.
If many gnats are seen in spring, expect a
fine autumn; if gnats fly in compact bodies
in the beams of the setting sun, there will be
fine weather.
If spiders webs fly in the autumn with a
south wind, expect an east wind and fine
weather
If bats fiutter and beetles fly about there
will be fine morrow.
II owls scream during foul weather it will
change to fair.
II storks and cranes fly high and steady
there will be fine weather,
IL the garden spiders break and destroy
their webs and creep away, expect rain or
showery weather
Ii there be many falling stars on a clear
evening in the summer, there will he
thunder.
II the stars above - deg, especially the
North star, flicker strongly and appear closer
than usual, there will be rain
4 rainbow in the morning is the shepherd S
warning.
If old and rheumatic people complain OF
their corns and joints and limbs onco broken
at the place of their union, there will be foul
or wet weather.
If the smoke from Chimneys blows down,
or if SCOT takes fire more readily than usual
or falls down the chimney into the crate, eN'
pect rain.
II ditcnes and drains smell stronger than
usual, expect rain, and when tobacco smoke
seems denser ami more powerful expect wei
weather.
II the marigolds continue shut after
o'clock in the evening, expect rain.
II the convolvulus and chickweed close
there will he rain.
II sheep, rams and goats spring about ir
the meadows and fight more than usual, eI
pect rain
II asses shake their ears, bray and rut
| against walls and trees, expect rain.
| II cattle leave off feeding and chase eact
other in their pastures, it will rain
| II cats lick their bodies and wash theil
| faces, it will rain.
II foxes and dogs howl and bark mor'
than usual; if dogs grow sleepy and dull
| rain
If swine be restless and grunt loudly; il
they squeak and jerk up their heads, Their
will be much wind. From this rule sprani
the proverb: Pigs can see much wind"
II moles cast up hills, rain.
| If horses stretch out their necks and sniff
the air and assemble in the corner Of fiel(
with their heads TO leewaTd, rain.
II rats and mice be restless it will rain.
II peacocks and guinea fowls scream anC
turkeys gobble, and if quails make NOR
noise than usual, there will be rain.
II sea birds fly toward land and land bird
toward the sea, there will be rain.
II the cock crows more than usual anC
earlier, expect rain.
II swallows fly lower than usual, expec
rain
II the crows make great deal Of noise AM
fly round and round, expect rain.
II water fowl scream more than usual ant
| plungs into the water, expect rain
II birds in general pick their feathers
wash themselves and fly to their nests, it vii
rain.
II cranes place their bills under wings
| rain.
II bees remain in their hives or fly but
short distance from them, rain.
| Ii fish bite more readily and gambol nea
the surface Of streams and ponds, rain.
If gnats, flies, etc, bite sharper than usual
expect rain.
Ii worms creep out of the ground in grea
numbers, expect rain
If frogs and toads croak more than usual
expect rain.
II the cricketS sing louder than usual, i
will rain.
II the owls screech, death is near and Their
will be rain
II the sea anemone shut, and according +
the extent it opens, so will the weather be I'm
or less SO.
II porPoises and whales sport about ships
expect hurricane.
! II the trefol contract its leaves, expec
thunder and heavy rain.
II the mole digs his hole two feet and hal
deep, expect a very severe winter; if two fee
deep, not SO severe; if one foot deep, q milt
| winter.
II robins approach nearer houses thai
usual, expect frost; if the ice crack mucl
the frost will continue.
| If the leaves of the trees move move with
out any perceptibe wind, rain may be ex
! pectet-BroOklyn Citizen.