The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-11-16
WEATHER Proverbs.
All the Wise Saws and
Sayings to be Collected
and Compiled Into
a Book.
A TALK WITH OBSERVER DEY
An Interesting Paper on the
ClOuds-What Birds, AMI
mails and Insects
Foretell.
TALK WITH OBSERVER DEY

The movement which has for its end
the collection of all the weather proverbs
of the United States is, in this section of
the country. in charge of L, NJ. Dey, the
good-natured aud genial prophet on the
top story of the Postofice building, re-
marks the Philadelphia Times. The
work is undertaken under orders issued
from Washington by Prof, Mark w. Har-
rington, the chief of the Weather Bureau.
Orders have been issued to all the
weather observers throughout the United
States, who are TO request the co-opera-
tion OF the public and all persons familiar
with saws or sayings concerning the
weather to send them to the Weather
Department.
The bulk of the proverbiaI ~prognostica-
items already known to exist are based
upon the action of birds. beasts, fish and
insects and much has been dom toward
a scientific explanation of some of these.
1t has been found that the increase of
aqueous yapar in the atmosphere is indi-
ca.ed by its effect upon the animal and
vegetable world. Animals are observed
to become restless before rain, and plants
aud trees also Indicate change in the rela-
tive humidity in the surrounding atmos-
phere by the expansion n contraction
of their leaves or flowers. such changes
are true signs of atmospheric variations,
and it Is these facts that the trtLe weather
savings emDody.
Those popular sayings referring to
years, mouths, weeks, etc.. are not con-
sidered of any real value in determining
the Weather forecasts of the periods
named, and it is in this respect that it is
hoped for more valuable hints from the
proguostics based on plants and animals.
The ableSt meteorologiStS OF today, aided
by the most perfect meteorological instru-
lnents 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
twentf-four hours. 1t is thought that a
more accurate observation of the condi-
ton OF plants or the condition aud action
of animals might lead to some valuable
suggestion i'll this important field of ill.,
~$estigation.
QUAINT -PROPHEsIES.
Y Observer Day states that, while as yet
: there has been no deluge of weather wis
com 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 wheu
.COflDtCIG1 cLOIA COLlO IL
Among the first replies TO his letter of
request were the following doggerel lines
from a professor in Hamilton College,
New York, who states that the first and
last couplets at least are supposed 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 prHne (oil) the feather,
81 Look for soaking weather.
4 One of the most interesting papers re-
lfceived gives the following on the coudi-
tons OF the e1ouds:>-"The motion, rapid
Dor slow, was regarded as one of the best
methods for foretelling the approach of
rain or snow. When there was a mist
before the rise of the full moon, if clouds
were seen in the west before the SUI rose,
or there was a mist in the fields before
sunrise, wet weather was expected.
When the mists va nished rapidly and the
moon seemed to rise later than usual, fine
weather was sure TO gladden. the hearts
of the merrymakers Oh the succeeding
: day. When the winds changed and the
clouds flew along on tall the farmers
predicted n Storm"
WHAT PIDERS N MATS F%oRETELL.
Another quaint series relates to spiders
, and gnats and the signs they give of the
approaching weather.
IT spiders, in spinning their webs. make
the termination dlaments long, we may.
in proportion to the length, Conclude that
the weather will be serene and continue
so for ten or twelve days.
II many gnats are seen in the spring,
expect a fine autumn; If gnats fly in COM
pact bodies III the beams of the setting
sum- there will ce fine weather.
IL the garden spiders break and destroy
their webs and creep away. expect rain or
showery weather.
Q~UADRUPEDs. TOO. LOOK AHEAD.
y IT, r.EfDTH - f1D oil ,r1N 49, - 49,
come In for tReir share of prophesying,
aud among the weather "rules' received
regarding them nave been the follow
quo:-
If sheep, rams and goats spring around
Sin the meadows and fight more than
usual, expect rain.
II cattle leave of feeding. and chase
each other aroun the pasture. rain.
II cats back their bodies and wash their
faces, rain.
If foxes and dogs howl and bark more
than usual; If dogs grow sleepy and dull,
rain.
If mo1es cast up hills, rain.
Ii horses stretch out their necks and
sniff the air and assemble in the corner
of a field with their heads to leeward,
rain.
If rats and mice be restless. rain.
FEATHERED PROPHETS.
The feataered forecasters have given
rise to the following
If peacocks and guinea fowls scream
and turkeys gobble, and il quails make
more noise than usual, rain.
II the cock crows more than usual and
earlier, expect rain.
If swallows fly lower han usual, expect
rain. g
II bats flutter and beetles fly about,
there will be fine weather.
Ii birds in general pick their feathers,
wash themselves. n fly to their nests,
rain.
SIGNS N SYMBOLS.
Some of the. queerest miscellaneous
CUPS received are TO the effect that
Ii there are no falling stars to be seen
on u bright summers. evening, you may
look for line weather.
Ii there be many falling stars on a clear
Y @vasFEE misorag 4
M%M MsM II U@1e