Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-11

rive at: the power of foretelling future
changes with certainty far exceeding tie
landsman's comprehension.
In the absence of that tact, that quick
prescience of atmospheric changes pos
sessed by the class of persons before men
toned, and which can only be ACQUIRED by
similar discipline, the common observer
must have barometer to aid him in form
ing guess whether he should take an UNI
brella or great coat with him, or whether
he may go forth unprepared for anything
but warmth and sunshine. But indica-
lions of the weather are not only to be
found in barometrical changes. The clouds
furnish data, and animals evidence every
change; and he who sets to work to study
these things gains something more than
weather wisdom-he acquires the habit OF
observation.
y sudden fall of the barometer in the
spring or autumn indicates wind: in the
summer, during very hot weather, thun-
der storm may be expected; in winter a
sudden fall after frost of some continuance
indicates change of wind, with thaw and
rain. But in a continued frost rise of the
mercury indicates approaching snow.
SIGNS FROM THE SKY.
When violent gale has followed sud
den fall of the mercury, it begins to rise
again very rapidly, especially about the
season of the equinoXes. In this case the
gale will not last long No rapid fluctua-
lions of the barometer are to be interpreted
as indicating either dry or wet weather; it
is only the slow, steady and continued rise
or fall that is to be attended to in this re-
spect. A rise of mercury late in the
autumn, after long continuance of wet
and windy weather, generally indicates
change of wind to the northern quarters
and the approach of frost.
The clouds have always been an index of
the weather. If the sky be clear after the
continuance of fair weather, light streaks
of cloud appearing are the first indications
of change. If these clouds accumulate and
descend into lower regions of the atmos-
phere rain commences. When the sun ap-
pears to be setting in fog, with dark and
crimson streaks in sharp, well defined
lines, wind and rain and stormy weather
may be expected. In hot summer weather
the sky during the finest days is often
loaded with masses of cloud, clear, rounded
and brilliantly edged with light. With
such a sky no immediate change may be
apprehended. If, however, toward evening
these clouds congreSate in the horizon and
rise upward with sharp outlines, and an
the air, it is sure sign of an approaching
thunder storm.
A greenish tinge in the gray evening is a
sure precursor of wet, but whatever may
be their form, color and character, an in
crease in the clouds, particularly toward
evening, may be generally taken as indi-
eating approaching rain, because moisture
accumulated IN the air must return to the
earth in rain. The dappled or notified sky
is at all seasons sign of fine weather
Halos around the moon are considered
tolerably certain sign of rain, even when
there is no apparent cloud intervening tc
form them,
SIGNS FROM FOWLS
Among the general and common prog
nostics of the weather we may reckon such
as are derived from birds, beasts insects,
reptiles and plants, and from the wood
work of houses.
Before rain an unusual hustle is to be
observed among ants, bees and wasps at
their nests; spiders quit their recesses and
are seen crawling about at night; flies Of
all kinds are more active, and sting or bite
When gnats fly in compact bodies in the
beams of the setting sun it indicates fine
weather, but if they retire under the shade
of trees at evening rain may be expected.
Snails and slugs appear in greater number
in damp weather, and therefore both before
and after rain, and frogs are more noisy in
the ponds and marshes at the same time
Swallows fly low before rain, because the
insects which are their prey approach
nearer to the earth at that time 1t has
been observed that fish are eager in boiling
at flies and are msre active before rain for
a similar reason.
The uupaSiYaSS NJ MICS hafora storm, baS
been a theme of amusement in rural life
quite long enough to attest the truth of
the observation. Sailors expect a sto<m
when porpoises and dolphins gambol on
the surface of the water.
Peacocks and guinea fowls and many
other birds are particularly clamorous be-
fore rain, and the domestic cock manifests
uneaslness ey frequent Growing. Birds in
general retain in the quill part of their
feathers quantity of oil, which, when they
feel an extraordinary degree of moisture in
the atmosphere, they express by means of
their bills and distribute it over their
feathers to secure their bodies against the
effects OF an approaching shower
Domestic animals, as cows and sheep,
but particularly the latter, on the APP
proach of rain feed with great avidity in
the open field, and retire near the trees
and hedges as soon as they are satisfied.
In fine weather they Craze and lounge
about, eating and resting alternately with
apparent indifference.
The presentlment of change of weather
is common to many, possibly TO all, kinds
of birds, arising probably from sensibility
of touch. The woodpecker, the snowbirds,
the swallow are all busy before storm.
searching eagerly for food. Ducks and
geese are tumultuous before falling wealth
er; they wash and arrange their plumage
with uncommon activity. The Observing
farmer remarks these things; he looks on
birds as monitors who, from perception
superior to his own, prepare him for the
coming change. Before storm the petrels
flock under the wake of a ship and are
looked upon by some sailors as foreboding
'evil.-New York Recorder.