Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-12-22
INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS.
The Effects Produced by Earthquakes
Upon the Lower Animals.

The Effects Produced by Earthquakes
Upon the Lower Animals.
In the last issue Of the transactions
OF the chronological Society Of Japan"
Professor Milne, the well known student
OF volcanic phenomena, discusses the eff
fects. Of earthquakes on animals. The
records of most great earthquakes refer
to the CONSERVATION of dogs, horses,
cattle and other domestic animals. Fish
also are frequently affected In the Lon
don earthquake of 1149, roach and other
fish in a canal showed evident signs of
confusion and fright; and sometimes
after an earthquake fish rise to the sur
face dead and dying.
During the Toxic earthquake Of 1880,
cats inside a house ran about trying to
escape. foxes barked, horses tried TO kick
down the boards combining them to their
stables. There can, therefore, be no
doubt that animals know something I'm.
usual and terrifying is taking place.
More interesting than these are the OBJ
servations showing that animals arc agi-
tated just before an earthquake. Ponies
have been known TO prance about their
stalls, pheasants to scream, and frogs to
cease croaking suddenly a little time be-
fore a shock. as IL aware of its coming.
The Japanese say that moles show their
agitation by burrowing. Geese pigs and
dogs appear more sensitive in lis respect
han other animals. After the great
Calabrian earthquake it is said that the
neighing of a horse, the braying of an ass,
or the cackle of a goose was sufficient ia
cause the inhabitants to fly from their
houses in expectation Of a shock.
Many birds are said to show their un-
easiness before an earthquake by hiding
their heads under their wings and behav-
ing in an unusual manner. At the time
Of the Calabrian shock, little fish like sand
cells (cirricelli), which are usually buried
in the sand, came to the top and Were
caught in multitudes. In South Amer
lea certain quadrupeds, such as dogs,
cats and ierboas, are believed by the peo-
pie to give warning Of coming danger by
their restlessness; sometimes immense
flocks of sea birds fly inland before an
earthquake, as if alarmed by the com
mencement Of Some sub-oceanic disturb
ance. Before the shock of 1885 In Chilli,
all the dogs are said to have escaped from
the city Of Talcahuano.
The explanation offered by Professor
Milne of this apparent prescience is that
some dllullIS are SENSITIVE 10 the small
tremors which precede nearly all earth
quakes. He has himself felt them some
seconds before the actual earthquake
came, The alarm Of intelligent animals
would then be the result Of their own
experience, which has taught them that
small tremors are premonitory of move
ments more alarming. Signs OF alarm
days before an earthquake are probably
accidental; but sometimes in volcanic
districts gases have emanated from the
ground prior to earthquakes and have
poisoned animals. In one case large mum
bers Of fish were killed in this way in the
Tiber, and at Pollonica on the morning OF
April 6, 1874, 1.-THE streets and roads were
covered with dead rats and mice. In fact,
it seemed as if 1t had raiued rats. The
only explanation of the phenomena was
that these animals had been destroyed by
carnations of carbon dioxide. "-Scientitit
American.