Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-09-21
SOME WEATHER PROVERBS.

The movement which has for its end
verbs of the United States is, in this
section of the country, in charge of L.
NJ. Dey, the good-natured and genial
weather prophet on the top story of
the Post-office Building. says the Phila-
delphia Times. The work is under
taken under orders issued from Wash
ington by Prof. Mark w. Harrington,
the chief of the weather bureau.
Orders have been issued to all the
weather observers throughout the
United States, who are to request the
cooperation of the public and ali per-
sons familiar with saws or sayings con-
corning the weather to send them to
the weather department..
The bulk of the proverbial prognosti
cations already known to exist are
based upon the action of birds, beasts,
fish and insects, and much has been
done toward scientific explanation of
some of these. 1t has been found that
the increase of aqueous vapor in the at
mosphere is indicated by its effect upon
the animal and vegetable world. Ami
mails are observed to become restless
before rain, and plants and trees also
indicate change in the relative humid
ity of the surrounding atmosphere by
the expansion and contraction of their
leaves or flowers. Such changes are
true signs of atmospheric variations,
and it is these facts that the trite wealth
er sayings embody.
Those popular sayings referring to
years, months, weeks, etc, are not con-
sidered of any real value in determin-
ho CT of hn lie
named and it is in this respect that it is
hoped for more valuable hints from the
prognostics based on plants and animals.
The ablest meteorologists of to-day,
aided by the most perfect meteorologi-
cal instruments and the results of years
of accurate instrumental observation,
are still unable to give reliable forecasts
of the weather for a longer period than
two or three days, and frequently no
longer than twenty-four hours. 1t is
thought that more accurate Observa-
ton of the condition of plants or the
condition and action of animals might
lead to some valuable suggestion IN this
important field of investigation.
Observer Dey states that, while as yet
there has been no deluge of weather
wisdom in the form of poetry or prose,
he has nevertheless received a number
of quaint observations that have been
placed on file to be forwarded to Wash
ingtOn when completer returns are in.
Among the first replies to his letter of
request were the following doggerel
lines from professor in Hamilton Col
lege, New York, Who states that the
first and last couplets at least are sup
posed to be indigenous to Central New
York:
When the toads are in sight,
1t will rain before night.
With a mackerel sky
Rainy weather is nigh.
When the hens prune (oiD the feather
Look for soaking weather.
One of the notwithstanding papers re-
ceived gives the following on the condi-
tons of the clouds:
1.-THE motion, rapid or slow, was re-
garded as one Of the best methods for
toretelling the approach of rain Or snow.
When there was mist before the rise
of the full moon, if clouds were seen in
the west before the sun rose, or there
was mist in the fields before sunrise,
wet weather was expected. When the
mists vanished rapidly and the moon
seemed to rise faster than usual, fine
weather was sure to gladden. the hearts
of the merry-makers on the succeeding
day. Whensthe winds changed and the
clouds flew along on tall the farmers
predicted storm"
Another quaint series relates to spid-
ers and gnats and the signs they give of
the approaching weather.
If spiders in spinning their webs
make the termination tilaments long,
we may, In proportion to the length,
conclude that the weather will be
serene and continue so fer ten or twelve
days.
If many gnats are seen in the spring.
expect a fine autumn; if gnats fly in
compact bodies in the beams of the set
ting sun, there will be fine weather.
If the garden spiders break and de-
stroy their webs and creep away, ex-
pect rain or showery weather.
The various quadrupeds of course
and among the weather "ruies" receiv-
ed regarding them have been the fol-
lowing:
If sheep, rams, and goats spring
around the meadows, and fight more
than usual, expect rain.
If cattle leave off feeding, and chase
each other around the pasture, rain.
If cats back their bodies and wash
their faces, rain,
Ii foxes and dogs howl and bark more
than usual; if dogs grow sleepy and
dull, rain.
If moles cast up hills, rain.
If horses stretch out their necks and
sniff tie air and asse mble in the corner
of a field with their heads to leeWard,
rain.
If rats and mice be restless, rain.