The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-01-19
ANIMAL BARoMETERS.

storm some animals will show
every sign of fear. Others will take no
notice of thunder. They may know
that a thunderstorm is in the air, but
when the thunder roars they hear only
natural sound, which has no terrors
for them. have known very ner-
, vous horse which, being a trifle blind,
would shy at every opportunity, start
at any unexpected sight, bolt at a snd-
den noise, like the rafting of milk
cart-he turned something like dou-
BILE somersault when he first met an
electric tramcar-but which would en-
dure sudden thunderstorm with per
feet calmness, taking not the slightest
notice of flashing lightning or earsplit-
ting thunder claps. When donkeys
bray loudly and necessarily, the wealth
er wise predict rain-and rain, true
enough, often follows.
Many are the ideas concerning cows
and the weather. Rain may be predic-
ted when cows lie down early in the
morning when out at pasture. Not ev-
cry one however, could give a Satisfac-
tory reason for the belief in this notion.
Yet there is a very plausible inference.
The cows, feeling rain in the air, lie
down to keep dry at least as much
grass as their bodies can cover. When
the rain is over and gone, they can rise
and enjoy a dry feed At the same
time, from a human point of view
which is the worst of all points Of view
from which to judge an animals beha-
vior under any conditions-it is rather
absurd of the cows to lie down before
the rain comes. They might go on
munching, at least until the first drop
of rain falls. 1t may be that they act
on the promptings of some primitive in
stinet, which warns them to rest whom
there is rain about, so that they may
not only insure dry spots for future use,
but may reserve their strength against
the time when the sun shines again and
they may roam and eat to their hearts
content.
Once there was traveller who, when
crossing moor on a brilliantly fine
day, was surprised to be warned by
shepherd boy that he would be wetted
to the skin by the rain before he
reached his journeys end. This
seemed so absurd, considering the
beauty of the day, that the wayfarer
could only think the boy was laughing
at him. However before he had
crossed the moor, sure enough, rain fell,
and he was drenched through and
through. On another day, when pass
ing over the same moor, he met the
same shepherd boy. The day was
cloudy; there was every sign of coming
rain. and when the traveller, question
ing the boy, was informed that no rain
would fall, but rather that the sky
would clear and the sun shine, his as
constituent was greater than before
He went on his way, convinced that the
boy was making fun of him. But, sure
enough, soon the clouds disappeared
and the sun shone.
Then the wayfarer sought out the
boy to learn the secret OF his weather
prophecy, but for long time the shep-
herd lad refused to say on what5he had
based his forecasts. At last the travel
er offered him a sovereign for the In"
formation. Then the boy explained.
"You see. that old ram of mine?' he
said in effect. HE always knows what
weather is coming, for when rain will
fall he turns his tail to the wind, and
when the day will be fine he grazes
with his head to the, wind. And so I
know what the weather will be-
Another sign of coming rain or strong
wind is evident when herd OF cows
gathers together at one end of pas
ture. with their tails to windward.
Again, when cows are unusually frisky
so that even sedate old grandmother
COWS caper about the field and butt i'm
aginary objects with their horns, while
they fling up their heels-eften storms
are in the air. Cows are sometimes
thus playful in the witching hours of
twilight-to the terror of nervous wo-
men who must cross their pastures!
But when, in twilight COWS follow
one another. along a field path unpleas-
antly closely, and gambol unpleasantly
around one, fear of storm need not
necessarily add terror to the situation.
For cows are very inquisitive, and in
the light of twilight Ike to make care
full investigation of strangers, without
meaning any offence. Cows show a
sign Of heat and its accompaniment,
annoying insects, when they thus col
lect together, rubbing. themselves
against each other-and one might read
in this sign of fair weather ahead.
Shepherds generally agree that sheep
foretell the approach Of storm by
showing an unusual liveliness. They
frisk and gambol, as though deter
mined to make the most o! the fine
weather while it lasts, butt each other
and go through surprising leaping evo-
lutions, playing the lambs great game
Of follow my leader, and jump when my
leader jumps, whether there is any
thing to jump over or not. Another
sign of a storm is when pigs cry and
run uneasily, and carry their litter in
their mouths.
Coming to wilder, freer animals, there
is no dufficlllty in sl1pposing that they