The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-03

this respect that 10 is hoped for more valu-
able hints from the prognostlcs oased on
plants aud animals The aolest meteorolo-
gists of to-day. aided by the most perfect
meteorological instruments and the results
of years of accurate instrumental observa-
ton, are still unable to give reliable fore
casts of the weather for longer period
than two or three days, and frequently no
longer than Cwenty-tOur hours. IL Is
thought that more accurate observation
of the condition OF plants or the condltlon
and action of animals might lead to some
valuable suggestion IN the Important uelo
of investigation.
Observer Dey states that, while as yet
there has been no deluGs Of weather wis
dom 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 Washington when
oOmpleter returns are in.
Among the first replies to his letter OF re-
quest were the following dogReral lines
from professor in Hamilton college, New
York who states that the first and last coup
lets st least are supposed to be indigenous
to Central New York:
When the toads are in sight,
1t will rain before night.
With mackerel sky
Rainy weather is nigh.
When the hens prune (oil the feather,
Look for soaking weather
One OF the most interesting papers re-
ceived gives the following on the conditions
Of the clouds:
The motion, rapid or slow, was regarded
as one of the best methods for foretelling
the approach of rain or snow. When there
was mist before the rise Of the full moon,
il clouds were seen IN the west before the
sun rose. or there was mist In the helds
before sunrise wet weather was expected.
When the mists vanished rapidly and the
moon seemed to rise faster than usual, hne
weather was sure to gladden. the hearts or
the merrv-makers on the succeeding day.
When the winds changed aud the clouds
flew along on tail, the farmers predicted
storm.
Another quaint series relates to spiders
and gnats and the signs they give OF the APP
proachi weather.
IL spiders in spinning their webs make the
termination tilaments long, we may, In pro-
| portion to the length, conclude that the
| weather will be serene aud continue 30 for
| ten or twelve days.
Ir many cnats are seen In the spring, ex-
pect a fine autumn; if anats fly in compact
| bodies, In the beams OF setting sun, there
will I've fiue weather.
II the garden spiders break aud destroy
their webs aud creep away, expect rain and
| shoWery weather.
The various quadrupeds Of course come
| in for their share Of prophesyinR. and
among the weather rules received regard
| ing them have been the following:
II sheep, rams and goats spring around
| in the meadows, and fight more than usual,
| expect rain.
If cattle leave off feeding, and chase each
| other around the pasture. rain.
If oats back their bodies and wash their
| faces, rain.
| II foxes and dogs howl and bark more
than usual il dogs grow sleepy and dull {,
rain.
II moles cast up hills, rain.
If horses stretch out thei necks and sniff
the air aud assemble In the corner OF field
with their heads to leeward, rain.
| Ifrats and mice be restless, rain.
The feathered forecasters have given rise
| to the following:
II peacocks and guinea fowls scream and
turkeys gobble, aud II quails make more
| noise than usual, rain.
II sea birds fly toward land and land birds
| toward the sea, rain,
II the cock crows more than usual and
| earlier, expect rain.
II swallows fly lower than usual, expect
rain.
II bats flutter and beetles fly about there
| will be fine weather.
If birds in general pick their feathers,
wash themselves, and fly to their nests,
| rain.
Some of the queerest miscellaneous quips
ed are TO the effect that:
If there are no falling stars to be seen on
bright summers evening you may look
for 6ne weather.
If there be many falling stars on a clear
evening in the summer there will be thun-
der
A rainbow In the morning is the shep-
| herds warning.
II the marigolds continue shut after Z
! o'clock IN the evening, expect rain.
| II fish bite more readily and gambol near
| the surface of ponds and streams, then look
| out for rain.
| If porpoises and whales sport about ships,
| expect a hurricane.
The moon. of course Is the subject of
many OF the best weather predictions.
! Great confidence is placed in the old prog
/ nostic:
| saw the new moon yestreen
Wi the old moon in her arm,
And II we're going to sea, master,
fear we'll come to harm.
1t Is also said OF the moon that elf the
new moon appears with the points of the
crescent turned up, the month will be dry.
II the pC,a are turned down, it will be
wet.n
One weather poet puts the case Of the
moon thus:
When n-st the moon appears, II then she
| shrouds
Her silver crescent, tipped with sable clouds,
| Conclude she bodies q tempest on the m6ir,
| And brews for fields impetuoua floods OF rain,
| Or if her face with fiery aushings glow,
! Expect the rafting wind aloft to blow,
But four nights old, 6or that is the best stgn.)
! With sharpened horns, If glorious then she shine
| Next day not only that, but all the moon,
! Till her revolving race be wholly run,
Are void of tempests both by land and sea.
good many old house wives still remain
their own weather prophets, and as = con
sequence one of the most popular of famii.
lar weather sayings is: "When rheumatic
people complain Of more than ordinary
pains ip their joints, it will RAIN" Another
! homemade barometer is the tender corn
or sensitive tooth, whose connection with
the weather has been ably stated thus:
coming storm your shooting corns presaKe,
And aches will throb, your hollow tooth will
rage
Mr.. Dey, when questioned yesterday re-