Animals and the Weather.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 September 1914, Page 2

Animals and the Weather.

Most birds and beasts are much

more sensitive to approaching changes of weather than human 'beings :ire, and by close observation of -ujiiie-' of their habits the weather .•tin be fore east with quite an astonishing- degree of accuracy. The ravens are among the most infallible weather prophets. When you see them early in the morning; souring- to groat heights and uttering a hoarse, croaking- .sound, you may be reasonably certain of a fine, clear day. Swallows flying; unusually high in the early morning are another sign of fair weather. The loud quacking of ducks, geese, and other water fowl is \ a sign of rain. .Just before a storm you will always find swine, cocks, and hens rubbing in the dust and in other ways showing their . uneasiness. Cattle and shoe]) announce a storm long before its arrival by huddling in one corner of the lield with their heads turned away from the wind. Just before a severe rain dog's are apt to be very sleepy and dull and to lie all day before the lire. If they bark long and Loud during the night without any visible, cause, it is a sign of a sudden change in temperature. When moles throw' up more earth, when numbers of spiders appear on the walls, when pig-eons return slowly to their dovecotes, when the frogs croak with unusual vigour and when the bees are reluctant to leave their hives —all these are declared by close observers to be forerunners of rain. * Before a severe windstorm sets in, pigs will run squealing about as if they had gone suddenly mad. Ln regions where cyclones and tornadoes are prevalent this has, given rise, to a widespread belief that these animals can actually "see the wind." In autumn the flight of wild geese in a westerly or southerly direction, trees and hedges very full of berries, and the early appearance of woodcock, snipe, etc.. are all thought to be indications of a severe winter. When the next day is going to be fine it has been noticed that bats continue flying about very late of an evening. The floating of gossamer and especially its presence on thC* rigging of ships are indications of fair weather in which from time immemorial sailors have placed much confidence. The appearance of gulls, petrels, «nd other sea birds at some distance inland presages stormy weather. Almost* everybody has noticed that flies are more troublesome and gnats more apt to" sting for several hours before it begins to rain. When the dew Hi-s plentifully on the grass of an e.ening you may look for a pleasant morrow, but if there is little or no dew. a wet day is ahead. When a cat washes over her ears you may be pretty sure that, it will rain before the day is -out. The action is a very noticeable one. After wetting, her paw with saliva puss passes it energetically several times over the upperside of her ear. The action nia.y be performed on the right or left aide, or both. The explanation probably is that the change 01 atmospheric pressure' u'l.oi.'t the cat's head which she .seeks (o !'i.-lieve by washing. , Jty may he that .she will do the! same thing if she feels a foreign substance upon the ear, but in that case she usually scratches vigorously with the hind leg. in the majority of cases washing over the ear is an infallible sign of rain. The common English sparrow will stop its chattering noise seven or eight hours before the arrival of a ] storm and become ominously silent. ' All birds give soino indication of ' approaching changes, of tlv weather, LmL with some species the signs are ■ easier to read than with others. '