News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-08-30
MATCHED IN THUNDERSTORMS.
How Gulls, Swans and Woodpeckcrs
ForetelI Weather Changes.

In Hampshire swans are believed to
be Matched in thunderstorms, and it is
said those on the Thames have an in
stlnctive pre- e-science of floods. Before
heavy rains they raise their nests. SAYS
the London Nelcs. This is characteristic
of many birds, which add piles of ma
terial to their nests to prevent swamp
ing. When rocks fly high and seem to
initiate birds of prey by soaring,
swooping, and falling, it is almost a GER
tain 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 ef-
feet. Various proverbs would seem to
indicate that the cry of the owl if heard
in bad weather fortells change.
The constant iteration of the green
woodpecker's cry before a storm has
given it the names of rain bird rain pie, ,
and rain fowl. Stormcock is o provin-
cial name shared by this bird and the
missel-thrush, the latter often singing
through gales of wind and rain. Storm
bird also is applied to the ieldfare. The
adherence in which mariners hold the
swallow-like storm petrol is well-known,
its appearance is believed to denote wild
weather. This little bird is the Mother
Carey's chicken of sailors, and is also
called storm-fnch and water-witch.
Herons, says an old author, flying up
and down in the evening, as if doubtful
where to rest, "presage some evil ap-
preaching weather"-a legend as old as
Virgil, though probably devoid of foun-
dation.
Concerning gulls in general, children
who live by the sea say, ''Seagull, sea-
gull, sit on the sand; it's never good
weather while you're on the land;" and
fisher folk know that when the seamews
fly out early and far to seaward fair
weather may be expected. To Scotch
shepherds the drumming of the snipe
indicates dry weather and frost at night,
and GibertWhite remarks that woodcocks
have been observed to be remarkably
listless against snowy, foul weather;
while, according to another author, their
early arrival and continued abode ''fore-
tells liberal harvest" In Wiltshire
the coming of the dotterel betokens
frost and snow, and there is a proverb
that the booming of the bittern will be
followed by rain or worse. In Moray
shire, when the wild geese go out to sea,
they say the weather will be fine; but if
toward the hill, stormy.
The saw-like note of the great tit
mouse is said to fortell rain; that of the
bluetit, cold. In the south of France SO
much store is set by the wisdom of the
magpie that if it builds it's nest on the
summit of tree the country folk expect
a season of calm; but if lower down
winds and tempests are sure to follow.
When iackdaW is seen to stand on one
of the vanes of the cathedral, tower
at Wells, it is said that rain is sure to
follow within twenty-four hours. Wells
must be wet place! In Germany,
dwellers in the country lack faith in the
skylarlk's song as announcing fine
weather; but when the lark and the
cuckoo sing together they know that
summer has come. The robin, buzzard,
lapwing, starting, and number of other
birds are said to foretell weather changes;
we have noticed that in nearly all the
species named tho various cries and
calls are closely connected with the
birds food supply.