The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-01-19
ANIMAL BARoMETERs.
Weather Wise Cat and Sensitive Dog
Show Approach of Storm.


Weather Wise Cat and Sensitive Dog
Show Approach of Storm.
The household cat. seated at ease be-
side the fire. carefully applies her
tongue to her paw, and then her paw to
her head, writes Marcus Woodward in
the Royal Magazine. THE cat is
washing her face-we shall have rain"
Some one is sure to say this. Children
have greater faith in this sign as GER
tain emblem of coming rain than in any
fall Of the barometer. Old grandams
do not let the sign pass unnoticed. 1t
is the very commonest example of how
weather is foretold by the behavior of
animals, though why our fireside tab
biea should be at pains to wash their
faces when they expect the coming of
natural shower bath is something of
a mystery.
The weather wise reputation that
cats. have earned in all countries de-
serves note. So extensive belief is
likely TO have certain amount of
foundation, and, as fact, none can
deny that often it does rain after cats
have washed their faces. The fur of
cats is full of electricity, and we may
readily believe that atmospheric infiu-
ences AFFECT their sensitive feelings,
Just as damp weather sets our rheuma-
tic old people groaning.
Cats are .domesticated only to a very
slight degree. They retain their primi-
tive wildcat instincts almost unim,
paired. See how cat raises its body
and Misses in imitation of snake when
sudden danger arises, just as wildcats
do III the forests. They return to a
wild condition sooner than any other
domestic animal. and go hunting with
all the skill Of cat that has never
seen a human being. And since, to
Wildcats. weather must be matter Of
great moment, as affecting their supply
Of prey, there is nothing preposterous
in surprising all cats to be more or less
weather wise. The remarkable liveli.
ness and skittishness OF cats of all ages,
even Of the most sedate, when thunder;
storms are in the air nave often been
noted. Ill -Is&.......%
Dogs are more domesticated than
cats, and show few signs OF weather
wisdom. The weather affects the aver,
age dog as it affects human being.
Hot weather makes him sleepy, cold
braces, wet depresses. But some dogs
are better weather prophets than 9th
ers. There is certain dog who is Civ
en- q supply Of bones every morning,
and who has been seen time after time
! to bury one or more Of his store when
rain has been in the air. Many dogs
have inherited this instinct from their
wild ancestors 10 hide and save their
food against days of bad hunting, and
it is certain that many dogs are aware
when thunder is in the air, and si1og
their prescience BY hiding in sheltered
places before a Thunderstorm and ~
other signs of uneasiness. N
Like our other domestic animals,
some horses are able to foreteli the
coming Of, rain. They then stretch
their necks and sniff the air. as II
seeming rain; and they start more than
usual and show signs of uneasiness,
But horses tenperaments vary 50
greatly some being so full of natural
instincts and some 50 thoroughly do
: nnesticated and SO full Of trust in theil
masters care--that ii is impossible t
draw accurate conclusions.