Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-04-15
ALL ARE WEATHER WISE
HERE IS A COMPENDIUM OF MEMS
COLLECTIVE WISDOM.

cators hhoW the host t.9ndemeu Have
to Piece Out Their Knowledge by the
Heip OF Administrations Signs Deter
mIne the Weather. So 1t IL said.
Nearly everybody Processes 70 be wealth.
or wise. Everybody tells everybody else
what sort of weather may be expected and
In nine cases ont Of ten everybody is wrong.
What is commonly called the power OF
fnretclling the weather Is only the result OF
rcPeated ohsegvat ans 90 the comparative
frequency with which certain effects &C.
3mpIny one another. Hence il is that
a-srcultursts Shepherds, gardeners,
cuachmru--aud above ALL fishermen and
sailurs-are ~ much 10 "a. weai herwise
than the mechanic or ,tizen. and from
the constant necessity they are under OF
studying the Hinutesi indications they ar.
rive at the power OF furrtelliug future
changes with certainty far exceeding the
landsman'S comprehension.
In the absence oi that tact that quick
prescience OF atmospheric changes pos
sessed 10y the class Of persons before men.
toned, and which can only be acquired by
similar discipline, the common observer
must have bIrumetcr To aid him in form
ing guess whether lac should take an um-
brell or great coat with him or whether
he may 20 forth unprepared for anything
but warmth and sunshine But indica.
tions OF the weather are not only to be
found IN basometrcal changes. The clouds
furnish data and animals evidence every
change; aud he who sets to work TO study
these things gains something more than
weather wisdom-he acquires the habit OF
observation.
a sudden fall Of the barometer in the
spring or autumn indicates wind in the
summer, during very hot weather, thun-
der storm ugy rcted; ia winter n
sudden fail aitrr frost ul some continuance
indicates "A change Of wind. with thaw and
rain. But in a continued frost rise of the
mercury indicates approaching snow
SIGNS FROM TUE sky
When n violent gale has followed a sud
den fall OF the mercury, il begins to rise
again very rapidly, especially about the
spasun of thr runinoNe~. In this case the
gaic will not last long. No rapid nuctua
tions of the barometer are to be interpreted
as indicating either dry or wet weather; II
H. only the slow, steady and continued rise
or fall that H. 20 he attended 10 in this re-
spect. a rise nf mercury late in titg
autumn, after long continuance Of wet
and windy weather. generally indicates a
change Of wind 10 the northern quarters
aud the approach Of frost.
The clouds have always been AN index OF
the weather II the sky he clear after the
continuance uf fair weather light streaks
OF cloud appearing nre the first indications
OF change. II these clouds accumulate and
descend into lower regions az the atmos
phere rain commences. When the sun ap
pears 10 he setting ia fog. with dark and
crimson strC@ls ia sharp, well defined
lines wind and rain and stormy weather
may be expected IN hot summer weather
the ky during the finest days II often
loaded with mFssr- ~ cloud, clear, rounded
and brilliantly edged with light. With
such SKY no immediate change may he
apprchcndrt. II, however. toward evening
these clouds cungregnte il the horizon and
rise upward with sharp outlines and an
unusual stiffness aud clOseness is felt IN
the air. IT is a surr sign of an approaching
thunder storm,
A greenish tluge ~ the gray evening Is
sure precursor IL wet but whatever may
be their form, color aud character, an In.
crease IN the clouds particularly toward
evening may bt generally taken as indi.
eating approaching rain, because moisture
accumulated in the air mnst return to the
earth in rain. The dapplrd or notified sky
is ut ali seasons d sign Of fine weather
Halos around the moon are considered
tolertbly certain sign IL rain. even when
there j. 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 aud plants. aud from the wood
work Of houses,
Before rain an unusual hustle IL to be
observed among ants, bees aud wnsps at
their nests: spiders quit their recesses aud
are seen crawling about at night. flies Of
all kinds are more aciiye, aud sting or bite
When gnats ily in compact bodies ia the
beams Of the sitting sun it indicates fine
weather but II they retire under the shade
OF trees ~ evening rain may be expected.
Snails aud sluss appear in greater number
in damp weather aud therefore both before
and after rain, aud tfel. lre more noisy in
the ponds aud marshr. at the same time.
Swallows fly low before rain, because the
insects which are their prey approach
Dearer to tn. earth al that time II has
been observed that fish are eager in bolting
at lics aud are more active before rain for
n similar reason.
The uncnsinr~s of pigs before n storm has
been theme Of amusement in rural life
quite long enough to nttcst the truth Of
the observation. Sailors expect storm
when pnrpoises aud dolphins gambol on
the surface of the water.
Pcacncks and guinea fowls aud many
other birds are particularly camorous be.
fore rain, aud the domestic cock mauiiests
uncasiness sy frequent Growing. Birds In
general retain IN the quill part of their
feathers quantity Of oil which, when they
feel an extraordinary degree of moisture IN
the atmosphere. they express by means Of
their bills aud distribute it over their
feathers 70 secure their bodies against the
effects OF an approaching shower.
Domestic animals, cows and sheep.
but particularly the latter, on the APP
proach OF rain feed with great avidity in
the open lieid, and retire near the trees
aud hedges as soon n they arc satisfied.
In line weather they Craze and lounge
about, eating aud resting alternately with
apparent indifference.
The presentlm.nt Of n change of weather
Is common to many, possibly to all, kinds
OF birds, arising probably from sensibility
OF touch. Tnr woodpecker, the snowblrds,
the swallow are all busy before a storm,
searching eagerly FOR food. Ducks aud
geese are tumultuoRs before falling wealth,
er; they wash and arrange their plumage
with uncommon activity. The observing
farmer remarks these things; he looks on
birds as monitors who, from perception
superior Ia bis own, prepare him for the
coming change. Before storm the petrels
flock under the wake af ship and are
'1onGed upon toy some sailors as toreboding
eytl.-New York Recorder.