Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-17
DOPE FOR WEATHER PROPHETS

made any experiments OF changing
animals from one climate to another to
test their adaptability in this respect.
1t Is believed that a Louisiana musk
rat. for example. might freeze to death
IL taken to a cold climate because his
skin would probably not react quick
ly enough to clothc him properly the
first winter. II he survived that year
the next year he would probably adapt
himself like the other animals of tho
region. This Is problcmatical. But II
Is certain that he would not grow his
thicker fur instinctively before the
cold weather struck him.
Hfbernation is another msintcrpret-
cd animal function. Early hibernate
is often pointed out as one of the signs
of approaching cold. AS matter OF
fact. animals do not hibernate so much
on account of cold as because OF their
bodily condition. When a bear has an
inch of fat on his body. or whatever
he needs for the winter. he feels, we
may imagine. much like person who
has eaten a hearty meal. So the bear
curls up in n protected place and
sleeps.
With some animals this desire for
sleep comes in the hottest part of the
wear. Ground squirrels in the West go
into the ground in July and stay there
the balance Of the summer months.
An example of how Information Is
connected in our minds with weather
is the ground hog shadow tradition.
The ground hog. or woodchuck. Is sup
posed to regulate the coming of spring
The story goes that the ground hog
comes out of his hole on Candlemas
day. February 2. and looks around. II
he secs his shadow he returns to his
hole. thereby informing the world thnt
winter is not over II the sky Is
cloudy he ventures out to enjoy tho
spring days that are coming.
DON'T TRUST THE GROUND HOG
This tradition got it's origin thru the
January thaw that sets in some years.
For "A week or two the weather Is
by experience that this fine weather
docs not hold. and that it Is almost in
variably followed by setback. Spring
is apt to come sooner II there Is no
January thaw. and the temperature
rises gradually n little later. The
ground hog comes. into the story be-
cause he cmcrgcs from his winter
quarters about this time. II no comes
out and finds the sun shining he is
supposed to know that the warmth is
too unreasonable to last.
The story would be more reasonable
IL the fate of the winter rested on tho
temperature of ground hog day rather
than tho sun. A day of freezing tenn
rcrature may he bright and sunny. Yet
the sign would read that the ground
hog saw MS shauow ana winter was
not over.
Tracing tho different traditions back,
Il Is easy to sec how they originated.
Today we merely quote thcm without
considering their significance or with
out making allowances FOR facts that
science has proved since the old wea-
thor lore was evolved.
The conclusion OF scicutists. is that
lower animals arc not better equipped
to be weather prophets than human
beings you'd be without their instru-
mcnts and scientific knowledge.
Those of us who arc much in the
open learn to gauge weather conditions
u day or two ahead. Clouds, humidity.
and tho winds are reliable signs, tho
not intailibic. Tho most threatening
looking cloud may not bc quito heavy
i enough to prccipitatae its moisture
I hcfore tho wind carries II far away.
Some persons also claim to know Nilcn