THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



NATURAL HISTORY, 



APRIL, 1832. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Contribution totvards an Account of Omens and Super- 

 stitions connected mth Natural History, By J. C. Farmer. 



Sir, 

 In reading tliat pleasant volume, by the late Sir H. Davy, 

 entitled Salmonia, I was so struck with the following remark 

 respecting omens, that I transcribe it, and add to it an account 

 of some which I do not think have yet found their way into 

 print, in the hope that others may do the same, and add such 

 explanations as may suggest themselves to account for such 

 seeming absurdities. " The search after food, as we agreed 

 on a former occasion, is the principal cause why animals 

 change their places. The different tribes of wading birds 

 always migrate when rain is about to take place ; and I re- 

 member once, in Italy, having been long waiting, in the end 

 of March, for the arrival of the double snipe in the Cam- 

 pagna of Rome ; a great flight appeared on the 3d of April, 

 and the day after heavy rain set in, which greatly interfered 

 with my sport. The vulture [see its habits narrated p. 233. 

 of the present Number], upon the same principle, follows 

 armies ; and I have no doubt that the augury of the ancients 

 was a good deal founded upon the observation of the instincts 

 of birds. There are many superstitions of the vulgar owing 

 to the same source. For anglers, in spring, it is always 

 unlucky to see single magpies; but two may always be re- 

 garded as a favourable omen ; and the reason is, that, in cold 

 and stormy weather, one magpie alone leaves the nest in 

 search of food, the other remaining sitting upon the eggs or 

 the young ones ; but, when two go out together, it is only 

 when the weather is mild and warm, and favourable for fish- 

 ing." (p. 156. 1st edit.) 

 Vol. v. — No. 25. p 



