Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-29
INSECTS THATPROGNOSTICATE

liz VI lho oIittu tJAhNco
Weather Bureau which is conducted at
tho Jchns Hopkins University is doing
a very valuable work for the farmers OF
his State, as similar branches are
doing all over the country, and most OF
the members of our agricultural pop
ulation are duly appreciatiye of these
results. But there are number OF
farmers-a some of them are not
so many miles away fiom Baltimore
who have no confidence in the prog
nostcations of the weather prophets,
and prefer to Judge of tho approach of
stormy or fair weather for themselves.
Their methods are not scientific In the
generally accepted sense OF the word,
but as science is based upon a long con
tinued observation and study of natural
objects and events with deductions
drawn from them, so the rural weather
prophet with his means of Judging OF
future weather, which has been used
by his father, his grandfather and his
ancestors for many generations, might
claim the title of scientist if he chose
to do 50.
There are many farmers in Maryland
who are experts in the business of
telling what tho weather is to be for
greater or less periods of time before
hand, and their results are Just I'D sat
isiactory TO themselves as the forecasts
which are sent out by the government
experts. The old English superstitions
regarding saints days and the effect
that they we're supposed to have on the
weather have nearly died out, although
there are many who still pin THEFT
faith TO the ground hog as II weather
prognosticator. But it is by watching
the birds and insects, as well as the
products of wood and field, that the
| Maryland farmer makes up his mind
as to the prospects of wot OF dry
weather or the severity OF the coming
season.
In this connection insects are the
most interesting to study, for their
actions are an unfailing indication of
the state of the weather. Bees aIe OK
cellent weather prophets, and they arc
never mistaken when it comes to an
wet, for he has enough sense to CONS
in out OF the rain. +" If there is to + o
q shower, the bees never go far from
home, but gather their honey in the
immediate neighhorhood of their hives
or nest If there is no honey 10 be
Procured near at hard they take n
holiday and sail around with ono eye
on the weather ard ready to start for
home before the first drops fall, just
before the rain they may be seen to
enter their hives in large numbers,
humming away as though congratulate
ing themselves and each other uron
their safe and dry homecoming. None
come out after once, in, and it is a
good hint TO anyone who may he watch
ing them TO go and do likewise. When
the bees are seen busily at work IN the
early morning it is u sign that there
will be unsettled weather later in the
day.
The weather instinct of the bees does
not seem to extend over very long
period of time hut that may be because
those of the insects that are most readily
observable bave had their senses sona
what blunted by civilization and life
in comfortable hive. Wasps and horn,
ets, which no one wishes to domesti
cate, and which are likely to remain
10 the wild state until the end of time
are said to have the weather instinc
ranging over considerable period o
time. The. clay banks of streams arr
favorite homo sites for these insects
and they frequently construct their nest
Just above the wafer. II the nests ar
built high up on. the hank it is takel
as sign by the country people tina
the season will be n wet one, tho in
sect, having .been careful to place thei
habitations fabove the Changer from
floods. When the nests are down nea
the level OF the water, it is taken as a
, Indication of a dry season.
Ants, too, are very good weather
I prophets for the season. When the,
,, are eeen at midsummer enlarging an
building IN their dwellings, it is take
as sign that the winter will be a
tearly and severe one. When ants tina
have settled on low ground are see
migrating to higher positions, it mean
that there will be heavy rains. A
open ant-holo means clear weather, an
: closed one that heavy rains are com
! ing. 1t is also said that the directio
3 from which the prevailing rains wi
U come may be told from the openings T.
the houses of the ants, for the openin
is always made towards the dryes
quarter and away from the directio
a which the rains will come II thor
, are many ant holes with their opening
! to The east, 1t is very likely that til
! season for this section of the countr
$ will he dry one.
' Careful observation Of spiders wi
:. give very good idea of what the weatbe
u is going to be. Before IL high win
: they may be seen strengthening thei
q webs and il the webs are spin, in tn
first place, with the lines of the fran
I, short and stout, the Insects instinC
! has told it of the approach OF win
q and rain. Long and slender frame lines
q on the contrary, are good indicatio
o OF calm, dry weather. If the spide
8 seems active and undistufbed while
. is raining it is because the rain wi
!, not continue long. But II he knock
q off work altogether and retires into
somewhat somnolent state, the rain wi
last for some time,
10 Tho time OF day at which spider
o work is also well worth considering. /.
!, they are seen mending their nets on
p summers evening, there will be no raj
70 that night. no matter how threatenir
the skies may look. 1t is said thu
when the insects are forsaking the
habits of industry and crawling on II
walls in large numbers, there will |
II wet weather. Spiders are often the fir
IN to give warning of the break up of
: drouth. After n long period of drynes
p ii closely woven and funnel. shaped ne
i'd are seen III sheltered positions, it IS
. sure sign that the rain is coming.
III Gnats are valuable heirs in the WI
IN OF foretelling the weather. Ii Il
columns of these insects are seen a
a. cending and descending in the evenin
Ia il means heat. The higher up Il
i. swarms go the more settled will Il
weather he. When, however, the swarm
"A are seen flying about under the ire
~ ard in the shade, rain may be expeote