The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-31

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 congregate in the horizon and
rise upward with sharp outlines, and an
unusual stiffness and closeness is felt in
the air, it is a sure sign of an approaching
thunder storm.
a greenish tinge in the gray evening is
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 a sign of fine weather.
Halos around the moon are considered
tolerably certain sign of rain, even when
there is no apparent cloud intervening to
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 wasDs ar
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 st 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 fy low before rain, because the
insects which are their prey approach
nearer TO the earth st that time. 1t has
been observed that fish are eager in boiling
at flies and are more active before rain for
2 similar reason.
The uneasiness of pigs before a storm has
been a theme OF amusement in rural life
quite long enough 70 attest the truth OF
the observation. Sailors expect a storm
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
uneasiness ty frequent Growing. Birds in
ACEcL6A ICls1iA IA tA4N GAAAs ktAf q u Ni4C4A
feathers 4 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 10 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, es,iug and resting alternately with
apparent indifference.
The Dreseutimeat of d change Of weather
is common to many, possibly 10 all. kinds
OF birds, arising probably from sensibility
Of touch The woodpecker. the snowbirds,
the swallow aEe ali 0usy before s storm,
searching eagerly for food Ducks aud
geese are tumaItuous before falling weatt-