Natural History. 501 



16. Natural Prognostics of the Weather, hy M. Waldeck.^ '■ 



Signs of Fine Weather : — 1st, By Birds. When the alcido hispida 

 and ducks leave the earth and fly towards the sea ; when the kites 

 and bitterns cry as they fly ; the swallows fly at great heights, 

 because the flies then keep in the upper regions ; the apodes fly 

 after each other in the air till late in the evening, with vivacity of 

 noise; the ravens and sparrow-hawks cry frequently and loudly; 

 the turtle-doves coo softly ; the robin rises in the air singing ; the 

 owl hoots ; the wren (sylvia troglodytes) sings in the morning 

 until nine or ten o'clock, and after mid-day till four or five o'clock 

 — beyond this time their song announces rain. 2ndly, By other 

 Animals, Frogs contained in glasses climb up their sides ; the 

 glow-worms fly about in great numbers in the evening; insects and 

 flies play in the air after sun-set ; the bat appears late ; the spiders 

 spin tranquilly, and extend their nets to a distance. 



Indications of Rain. — 1st, By Birds. When the large black 

 sea-mew, the cormorants, aquatic birds, and birds generally, go to 

 the 'rivers, and water and bathe noisily; ducks, geese, and moor- 

 hens plunge into the water, flapping it about with much noise ; 

 wild geese fly high in the air and in disorder ; the plovers become 

 restless, flying here and there, and uttering their peculiar cry ; the 

 ravens and the rooks assemble in groups, and then almost imme- 

 diately separate ; the ravens in the morning, and the rooks in the 

 evening, utter continual cries, and walk solitarily on the ground ; 

 the swallows fly low in the air ; the magpies cry much at other 

 seasons than at pairing time ; domestic birds rub themselves in the 

 dust ; partridges, pigeons, aud smaller birds, bathe themselves in 

 the sand ; the cock crows immediately after sun-set (when, on the 

 contrary, the cock walks about during rain, it is a sign it will soon 

 cease) ; the melancholy cry of the chaffinch is heard ; the wood- 

 lark, linnet, sparrow, and robin, cry or sing during the morning ; 

 the peacocks and owls cry more frequently and strongly than usual 

 during the night ; the poultry are longer engaged in searching out 

 the insects beneath their feathers, the latter penetrating more 

 deeply into the skin. 2ndly, By other Animals. When the cattle 

 pant for air towards mid-day ; pastured cattle, sheep, and goats, 

 leap much and quarrel with each other ; pigs are restless and dis- 

 perse their food ; cats rub their ears and press their bodies against 

 obstacles; dogs become restless, scratch the ground, eat grass, 

 and bark in a growling manner ; the foxes bark ; the wolves 

 howl ; the moles raise the earth higher than ordinary ; the frogs 

 croak much, and hide themselves in the meadows ; the bats do not 

 leave their retreats in the evening; the spiders work but little, 

 spin short threads, and retire to their corners ; the flies bite horses 

 and cattle on the legs, are agitated, and fly confusedly together; 

 the fish (cobitis fossilis) trouble the waters ; and the worms disturb 

 the earth. 



It is considered as a presage of windy when aquatic birds of the 

 sea and marshes fly together towards the laud and play, especially 



