The Pensacola journal., 1907-06-14
AS
BAROMETERS
Quick to Perceive Coming Of
Storms or Changes in
the Weather.

The Chicago Chronicle says: Sup
pose you wish TO so out shopping vi
calling and are undecided about TAX
ing an umbrella You realize that
during April the weather IS a capri
cious thing and little to be depended
upon. You don't wish to be- bothered
with an umbrella if the sun continues
to shine, yet you object to being
caught in the rain.
Do you have any animals about
your home? If YOU live in the cOUn-
try no doubt YOU do; if in the city
perhaps you possess a pet cat or par
rot or canary. Well, watch them for
a few minutes; most animals and
birds are good barOmeters.
The Cat Knows.
Perhaps if you live in an apartment
house your neighbOr possesses a Tab
by. Il wish to go out walking you
murmer politely. May | watch your
cat few minutes. Such a pretty little
kitty"
While you sit watching the soft
eyed kitten your friend will regard
you with perpleXity and some amuse-
ment. But you see the cat washing
her face energetically. You so TO
your room and get an umbrella. Your
friend goes out walking without OBJ
serving HtI cat anu SLC SSIS wet
When you return home you can tell
her that if she will notice the cat be-
fore going out she need not fear the
weather
Before a rainstOrm the cat nearly
always washes her face. Why? Some
claim that the atmosphere eXCites the
electricity in the cats fur. irritating
her. and to overcome the tIngling sen
sations she sets to washing herself.
Polly Will Tell You.
Or. if there is not a cat in the house
a maiden lady next door may possess
a loquacious parrot If the bird sits
and makes a sort of kissing noise
you may be sure there will be rain
before night.
If you have an aquarium of gold
fish you may observe that they will
become unusually active some sunny
afternoon. They will dart about in
the water and flap their little tails
This is a sign of rain.
One seldom need fear getting wet if
he lives in the country. Horses. COWS.
sheep, hogs, dogs, peacOcks-all
evince certain peculiarities before a
storm
Suppose you are master of a Skye
terrier or any other dog. No doubt
you have often seen him burying
bones yet you never took notice of
the fact that he did this shortly be
fore il rained.
In the days when man wandered
through the forests savage creature.
clothed principally with sunshine and
smiles, he took little care of the dog
1t required all the efforts of the tribal
ancestor to take care of himself So
the dog had TO be on the lookout for
"a rainy day
Dogs Are Next"
Dogs in those days lived mostly on
fowls. Now in rainy weather fowls
are hard to catch. So the early pet
of man caught game before the rain
began and buried it, so he should not
die of hunger in case the storm con
tinued.
This instinct still remains with the
dogs.
Horses become uneasy as a storm
approaches. They fidget and neigh
impatiently in their stalls.
Some day you may walk in TO a field
and see a flock of sheep in a corner
with their backs turned 10 the north
west. If you wait long enough you
will see d wind blow up from that di-
reCtiOn.
At other times the sheep run and
bound over the fields, rearing on their
hind feet as if they were fighting
imaginary foes. This indicates d dis |
turbance of the atmosphere and the |
approach of a brisk storm.
Hogs and Lions.
Hogs, as would be typical of them, !
grunt before il rains.
When lions eat ravenOusly circus !
trainers know there is going to be |
bad weather Then they take partic- !
ular precautions. in fastening the pole /
and ropes of circus tents
Birds, also, evinCe feelings Of dis |
comfort before incIempnt weather. |