, 1888-12-08
INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS.
The Effects Produced by Earthquakes
Upon the Lower Animals.

SIoh II W. hiiha
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 tho Lon.
don earthquake of 1749, roach and other
fish in n 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 hat animals know something un.
usual and terrifying is taking place.
More interesting than these are the OBJ
servations showing that animals are 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 II aware of its coming.
The Japanese say that moles show their
agitation by b%urrowing. Geese, pigs and
dogs appear more sensitive in this respect
than other animals. After the great
Calabrian earthquake it is said that the
neighing of a horse, the braying of IN ass,
or the cackle of q goose was sufficient to
cause the inhabitants TO fly from their
houses In expectation of q shock.
Many birds are said to show their I'M.
easiness before an earthquake by hiding
their heads under their wings and behav-
ing in an unusual mi At the time
of the Calabrian shock, little fish like SAND
cells (cirricelli), which are usually buried
In the sand, anne to the top and were
caught in multitudes. In South Amer
lea certain q~uadruPeds. such as dogs,
cats and jerboas, are believed by the peo-
pie to give warning of coming danger by
their restlessness; sometimes immense
hocks 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 Chill,
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 animals are sensitive to 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 DO the result of their own
experience, which has taught them that
small tremors arc 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 nave
poisoned animals. In one case large num-
bers of fish were killed in this way in the
Tiber, and at Follonica on the morning Of
April O, 1874. "the streets and roads were
covered with lead rats and mice. In fact,
1t seemed as II it had rained rats. The
only explanation of the phenomena was
that these animals had been destroyed by
~emanations of carbon dioxide. Scientific
American.