Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-09
WEATHER PROVERBS.
The Signal Service Bureau NJ akins Q Col
lection of Old saws

The Signal Service Bureau M akins . Col
lection of Old saws.
From the Philadelphia Times
The movement which has for its end the coll
lection Of all the weather proverbs of the United
States is, in this section of the country. in
charge Of L. N. Dey, the good natured and
genial weather prophet on the top story of the
post Office building. The work is undertaken
under orders issued from Washington 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 pub
lie and all persons familiar with saws or savings
concerning the weather to send them to the
weather department.
The bulk of the proverbial representations
already known to exist are based upon the
action OF birds. beasts. fish and insects. and
much has been done toward scientific expla-
nation Of some OF these. 1t has been found
that the increase of aqueous vapor in the at
mOsphere is indicated by it's effect unon the
animal and vegetable world. Animals are OBJ
served to become restless before rain. and
plants and trees also indicate change in the
relative humidity of the surrounding atmos-
phere by the expansion and contraction of their
leaves or flowers. Such changes are true signs
of atmospheric variations, and it is these facts
Those popular savings referring to wears
months, weeks, nc, are not considered of any
real value in determining the weather forecasts
Of the periods named and il is in this respect
that it is hoped for more valuable hints from
the prognostics based on plants and animals.
The ablest meteorologists of TODAY, aided nv
the most perfect meteorological instruments
and the results Of years OF accurate instrument
tai 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 q more accurate observation of the condi-
ton 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 vet there
has been no deluge of weather wisdom in the
form of poetry or prose, he has, nevertheless.
received n number of quaint observations that
have been placed on file to be forwarded to
Washington when completer returns are in.
Among the first replies to his letter of re-
quest were the following doggerel lines from
states that the FIRST and last coupes at least are
supposed to be indigenous to central New
York:
When the toads are in sight,
Il viii rain before night.
With uisckerel sky,
Rainy weather Is NTH.
EoSa for snsPnr ~astSsr the feather
One Of the most interesting papers received
gives the following on the conditions Of the
clouds:
The motion, rapid or slow, was regarded as
one Of the best methods for foreteiling the ap-
proach of rain or snow. When there was q
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 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
ola fbo hear ~ <ho
succeeding day. When the winds changed and
the clouds flew along on tail, the farmers pre-
dicted q storm"
Another quaint series relates to spiders and
gnats and the signs they give Of the approach
ing weather.
II spiders, in spinning their webs, make the
termination filaments long, we may, in proper
ton to the length, conclude that the weather
will be serene and continue SO for ten or twelve
days.
II manv gnats are seen in the spring. expect a
fine autumn; il guats fly in compact bodies in
the beams Of the setting sun, there will be fine
weather.
II the garden spiders break and DESTROY their
webs and creep away, expect rain or showery
weather.
The various quadrupeds, Of cour,e come in
for their share Of prophesying, and among the
weather ''rnles received regarding them have
been the following:
II sheep, rams and goats spring around in the
meadows and fight more than usual, expect
rain.
II cattle leave of feeding and chase each
other around the pasture, rain
If cats back their bodies and wash their faces,
rain.
n foxes and dogs howl and bark more than
usual; u dogs grow sleepy and duh. rain.
III moles cast mp hiils. rain.
II horses stretch out their necks and sni6 the
air and asssmble in the corner Of : dad WITH
their hsadl 10 leewafd, rain.
Is rats and mice BE- restless, rain.
The feathered forspnstsrs hsve 9fven rfae- n
flnn fnllov{ues