Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-08-02
BIRDS AS WEATHER PROPHPN

How Gulls, and WOodp.ekers for.,,
Weather Changes
In Hampshire swans are believed 70
Matched in thunderstorms, and it !. ..;H
that those on the Thames have an inst"
tive pre-science of floods. Before bso~I
rains they raise their nests. Tbs
characteristic of many birds, which IN
piles OF material to their nests to proven u
swapping. When rocks fly hiab ,rd8
seem to initiate birds of prey BY sosrins A
swooping and falling, it is almost ga, ii
tain sign OF coming storm. Staying in N
vicinity of the rookery, returning at ni5M
day, or coming to roost in groops s,s Al
so said to be omens to the ike er.,,
Various proverbs would seem TO indicsts
that the ory OF the owl il heare in bsjs
weather, forstells a change.
The constant iteration of the g,ss1j
woodpec&er's cry before a storm has ciyI
en- 1t the names of rain bird rain Die spf
rain fowl. Stormcock is a provincial
name shared by this bird and the mi,,slg
thrush, the latter often singing througd
gales of wind and rain. Storm bird sIsd
is applied is the feldfare. TIE abhorenca
in which mariners hold the swallovlik i
storm petrol is we'll known; its appesrs
ance is believed to denote wild weather.
This little is the Mother Carey's CHECKED
of sailors, and is also called storm incl
and water witch. Rerons, says an I'D
author, flying u p and down in she EVENING"
az if doubtful where to rest, "p,esags
some OWL approaching weather. legend
as old as Virgil, though probably devoid
of foundation.
Concerning gulls in general, childrsa'
who live by the sea say, "Seagull, sesg1-A
sit on the sand; it's never good weathes|
while you're on the land" and fisher ,oA
know that when the seamews fly out sstI
and far to seward fair weather may a
expected. To Scotch shepherds II
drumming of the snipe indicates ri
weather aud frost at night, ard Gilbert
White remarks that woodcooks have bse15
observed to be remarkably listless sgsinsN
snowy, foul weather; while, according q
another author, their early arrival ant|
continued abode "foretells liberal hsrs
vest" In Wiltshire the coming Of ~
dotterel betokens frost and snow, aBf
there is proverb that the booming OF ~
bittern will be followed by rain or voF'aa
In Morayshire, when the wild geese "
out to sea, they say the weather will 4
fina: but if toward the hill, storSy
The saw-like note of the great titmon'sa 1
is said to foretell rain; that OF the blue'aS
cold. In the South of France so mneH
store is set by the wisdom of the msgplss
that If it builds its hest on the SUNNI /
of tree the country folks expect seSso
of calm; but if lower down, wind and I'M
pests are sure to follow. When a lscRaa
is seen TO stand on one of the vaues y
the cathedral tower at Wells, II i ~
that rain is sure to follow within tVsn!y
four hours. Wells must be a wei plso5S
Ia Germany, dwellens in the coun'r! 10Y 1
faith in the skylark's song of announcer &
fine weather; but when the lark anu = 4
cuckoo sing together they know ms ' ~, n
mer has come. The robin, buzzii'' ~ &
wing, starting, and a number 0, O'-' Z
birds are said to foretell weather eaAasI u
we have noticed that in nearly 81 ~
species named the various cries anu S'
are closely connected with the BIRD ''
supply.