The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-10-26

N.EAEisUR- PROPHET BIRDS.
unw Eu.,s, swans, n..l SEo"'lpcclscrs Forc
tell Weather Changes.
II

tell Weather Changes.
[!.ondon News
Tn Hampshire swans are believed to
". l,a;chc,l in til,inderstnrms, aud it is
said tim: those y, She Thames have an
Instructive 1,r.,stienre Of floods. Before
heavy rains they raise theirnest This
is characteristic. OF many birds which
add piies OF material to thci, nests to
prevent swamring. When rocks fly
nigh aud seem to initiate birds of prey
Ey soaring, swooping, and falling, it is
almost a certain sign Of coming storm.
Staying in the vicinity of the rookery,
returning at midday, or coming to
roost in groups, are also said to be
omens to the like effect. Various
proverbs would seem to indicate that
the cry of the owl, if heard in bad
weather, foretells change.
The constant iteration of the green
wootlpecier's cry before q storm has
given it the names of rain bird, rain pie,
and rsin fowl. Stormcock is q pro-
vincial name shared by this bird and
the lnisselthrusla, the latter often sing
ing through gales of wind and rain.
Storm bird also is applied to the field
fare. Tile adherence in which mar
iners hold the swallow-like storm petrol
is we'll known; its appearance is be-
licyed To denote wild weather. This
little bird is the Mother Carey's chicken
OF sailors and is also called storm finch
and water witch. Herons, says an old
author, flying up and down in the even.
ing, as ii doubtful where to rest, "pre.
. sage some evil approaching weather.
| a legend as old as Virgil, though prob
ably devoid of foundation.
/ Concerning gulls i'll general, children
who live by ille sea say, "seagull, sea
weather while you're on the land;;" and
fisher folk know that when the seamewl
fly out early and far to seaward iail
weather may he expected. To Scotch
shepherds the drumming of the snip,
indicates dry weather and frost at night
and Gilbert White remarks that wood
cccks have been observed to be remark
ably istless against snowy, foul weather
while, according to another author, thei
early arrival and continued abode "fore
tells libera! harvest. In Wiltshir
the coming of the dotterel betoken
frcst and snow, and there is a prover1
that the moving of the bittern will b
. followed by rain or worse. In Moray
shire, when the wild geese go out t
sea, they say the weather will be fine
but if toward the hill, stormy.
i The saw-like note of the great til
mouse is said to foretell rain that of tn
bluetit cold. In the South of Franc
SO much store is set by the wisdom, {
. the magpie that if it builds its nest o
. the summit Of tree the country-fol
= expect season of calm; but if lowe
down, winds and te,npests are sure I
/. follow. When iackdaw is seen I
4 stand on one of the vanes of the c,
thedral tower, at Wells, it is said ths
rain is sure to follow within twenty -for
hours. Wells must be wet place! ]
Germany, dwellers in the country lac
faith in the slylark's song as announcin
fine weather; but when the lark and IL
cuckoo sing together they know th'
summer has come. Therobin, buzzar'
lapwing. starting, and o number of 9th,
birds arc said to foretell wealth,
changes; we have noticed that in near
; oil the species named the various cri,
and Calls are closely connected with Il
birds food supply.