The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-12
LIVING BAROMETERS.
CREATURES OF THE LOWER ORDERS
THAT FORETELL WEATHER..

That Climbs IL ladder to Give Warming
The spider Is good example of tho
living barometer Close observation Of
tho work on its web castle will soon ell
able one to forecast the weather. When
high wind or heavy rain threatens,
tho spider may be seen taking i'll sail
with great energy-that is, shortening
the rope filalnents that susalin the web
structure. If the storm is t6ebe unusual
ly severe or of long duration, the ropes
are strengthened rs we'll as shortened,
the better to resist the onset of the Gle
mcnts. Not until pleasant weather is
again close at hand will the ropes 10
lengthencd rs before. On the contrary,
when you see the spider running out
the slender tilancnts, it is certain that
calm, fine weather has set III. whose
duration may be measured by their
clongation.
Every PA hours the spider makes some
alteration i'll its web to suit the weather.
If these changes are Alade toward even
ing, just before sunset, Il fine clear night
may be safely counted upon When the
spider sits quiet and dull III the middle
Of its web, rain is not far Off Ii il lie
active, however, and continues so dur
ing shower, then it will he Of brief
duration, and sunshine will follow.
These various indications may be Wit
messed and studied to the best ADVANTAGE
i'll the open air. But YOU need not al-
ways 90 outdoors to watch the sDidcr
barometer. There arc few houses where
the crafty creature does not find an OBJ
scurc corner wherein to swing its sign
board, 'Flios taken iii and done for
here. Watch these places and when
you see the spiders coming out on lie
walls more freely than usual you may
be sure that rain is near
There are individuals who would not
keep stock of spiders about their prem
isos for the express purpose of prophcsy
ing the weather from their movements.
and the enmity felt by the good house
maid for this particular species of ami
NAL is notorious. Those individuals can
study the movements of their own do
mestic animals. Cats and dogs are given
to scratching and other uneasy move
mcnts On the approach OF rainy weather.
and their fur looks less bright and CLOS
sy. Horses and cattle stretch their necEs
and sniff the air. Sheep become frolic-
some or turn their backs to the wind
and quarrel frequently. Goats blcat i'll
ccssantly and leave the hilltops for moro
sheltered spots Pigs run uncasily about.
carrying straw to the sty, and no longer
WalloW i'll the mud and mirc Fowls
huddlc together in the farnyarl with
dropping wings, and the air is filled
with the clamorous cacklc Of geese and
ducks. Those who live III the country
and spend much time i'll the open air
have the advantage Of observing the
movements of wild animals and of feel
ing liccnly in their own persons the op-
crations of the changing atmospherical
conditions. MOlcs become more active
i'll digging, stoats and wcasels become
unusually restless and uneasy, and the
hedgehog fortifics his cave against the
coming storm with an unfailing provi-
sion which has earned for him NEST en-
viablc reputation rs Il weather prophet
Wild birds make still better objects
of observation, because i'll the Largo
arr their actions are easily noted
Crows and swallows remain near home
when tempest is brewing; sea gulls no
longer venture out to sea, but hover
over the fields or fly inland when wind
and rain are near; swallows fly low
and skim the water, and the robin broCds
melancholy i'll the bush or seeks he
shelter OF Il ncighbOring roof These are
only lew of the many creatures Ci the
fields and the air which enable man
who has eyes to see 10 forecast the
weather during the next few hours. The
explanation of all this is TO be found in
No. al
mails, especially those which are more
or less wild, to atmosphcrcal contli-
tions. They are all constantly making
forecasts after their own manner, and,
as we have limited. tlscy are far more
trustworthy than any devices of man to-
ward this end.
Several ingenious attempts have re-
| Gently been made TO turn this unfuiling
instinct To some commercial usc A
number of very unique living baromc-
tcrs nave been put upon the market
The cheapest, and the enc which will
probably become the most popular, is
the frog barometer. \ small green frog
Is found III Germany which always
comes out of the water when cold or
wet weather is approaching. These
frogs are caught and kept in glass lars
furnished with Il tiny ladder and half
filled with water The frog weather
prophet sits high and dry on the top Of
his ladder for several hours before :.
storm and climbs down to the bottom
when the weather is to be fair and
clear. Other remarkable weather pr0ph-
cts arc lcccheS, and we have heard of Il
old mctcorologist who adjusted his ba-
roinetcr III such IL way that the lccchcs
would ring Il little bell whenever IL