Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-02-09
wEATHER-wIsE AND OTHER.
WISE.
Gen. Hazen's Book Of Proverbs for
Guessing at Wind and Rain.

Zen. Hazen's Book Of Proverbs for
Guessing at Wind and Rain.
A very interesting volume has
been issued according to the title
page, by the "United States of Amer
lea, War Department." entitled "Sig-
nal Service Notes No. 8. Weather
Proverbs, prepared under the direc-
tons of Gen. Hazen, Chief Signal
officer" The volume contains IA
pages, and consists of weather prov
erbs relating to foretelling weather
by the action OF birds, fish, frogs,
insects and reptiles, the condition or
appearance of fogs, dew, rainbows,
storms, thunder and lightning, trees
and wind.
The reason for the publication
seems to be the lament that "the
ablest meteorologists of today, aided
by the most perfect meteorological
Instruments, and the results of acu-
rate instrumental observations, are
still unable to give reliable forecasts
of the weather for longer period
than two or three days, and fire.
quently not longer that twenty -four
hours" 1t is, therefore, thought to
be "possible that more acurate OBJ
servation of the condition and action
of animals" might help the signal Of
flee out.
The following about the move
mcnts 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 a cat
turns and washes her face, after a
rain, shows the direction from which
the wind will blow.
When cats are snorting foul wealth
er follows.
Cats with their tails up, and APP
parently electrified, indicate ap-
preaching wind.
1t is a sign of rain if the cat washes
her head behind her ear Old lady
on Cape Cod.
When a cat scratches itself, oil
scratches on log or tree, it indicates
approaching rain.
When a cat washes her face with
her back to the fire expect thaw in
winter.
When cats lie on their head with
mouth turned up expect storm.
Cats have the reputation of being
weatherwise, an old notion which
has given rise to an extensive folE
lore. 1t is almost universally be
lieved that good weather may be ex
pected when the cat washes herself
but bad when she ticks her Goa
against the grain, or washes her fact
over ears, or sits on her tail to tn,
fire., AS, too, the cat is supposed
not only to have a knowledge of tn,
state of the weather, but certain
share in the arrangement of it, it i
considered by sailors to be most un
wise to provoke cat.
When COW stops and shakes he
foot il indicates that there is ba(
weather behind her.
When cattle collect near the barr
long before night and remain nea
the barn till late in the morning, ex
pect a severe winter.
Cattle are also said to foreshadov
rain when they lick their feet, or Ii
on their right side, or scratch them
selves more than they usually d.
against posts and other objects.
Hares take to the open countr,
before q snow storm.
Hogs, rubbing themselves in win
ter, indicates an approaching thaw
In cold, long winters, rabbits ar
fat it October and November; II
mild and pleasant winters they al
poor in those months.
Rabbits seek the woods before
severe storm.
When the spaniel sleeps, it indi
Gates rain.
Owls hooting indicates rain.
fowls boot at night expect fai
weather.
! When an owl boots or screeches
sitting ON the top of a house or b
the side of window, it is said t
foretell death.
When the ROSTERS go growing I
bed, they will rise with a water
head.
If a rooster crows on the groun,
it is sign of rain; if he crows Q
the fence, it is a sign of fair weathe
The following proverbs relate
thunder and lightning:
If the birds be silent expect thu
der.
If cattle run around and collect t
gether in the meadows, expect thu
der.
If the first thunder is in the ca
aha !! the bear has stretched his rig
f arm and comes forth, and the wint
e is over.-Zuni Indians.
9 If the first thunder is in the mort
h aha /! the bear has stretched his Il
g leg in his winter bed.
Thunder and lightning on t
/, northern lakes in November, is an
: dication that the lakes will rema
d open until the middle of Decemb,
It or until Christmas.-Said to be reli
/. BILE.
y If the first thunder in the SOU
IL aha the bear has stretched his rig
II leg in his winter bed.-Znni Indial
.. If the first thunder is in the We
e aha! the bear has stretched his j
II arm in his winter bed.-Zuni ]
" dams.
y An easy splitting log indicates ra
" All in all, is one of the most !
d markable books which the Cover
e ment has issued. In the matter
n interest it is much more entertaini
e than the handbook published Ii
year. Thus far it is the champ
o annual of the important service.
10 General Hazen deems 1T necessa
h TO announce in the perface that
l. weather forecasts of this Office are I
10 based upon the proverbs here Civ,