METEOROLOGY. 223 



made a branch of the 'agricultural division of the patent office.' In either case the nucleus 

 for it is already in existence; and the only expense necessary would be on account of the 

 addition to the force of the office that would be required to discuss the observations after they 

 are made. 



"Hence, you will perceive that what I want is, that the farmers and printers, and all who 

 are interested in the weather, should not only give me their good will, but that they should 

 use their influence in helping to bring about such a system of meteorological co-operation for 

 the land, as we have already established for the sea. 



"I make the appeal to the farming interest especially, because that is the great interest to 

 be subserved by the scheme ; and if the farmers do not really care enough about it to use 

 their influence with their representatives in Congress to procure the very trifling appropria- 

 tion that is required to get it under way, I do not see why I should give myself any further 

 trouble in the matter. 



"Will you not bring the subject in some tangible shape before the agricultural societies of 

 the country ? A simple memorial from them to Congress would not fail to procure all the 

 legislative aid necessary. 



"Some of the leading scientific men of Europe are ready to join us in such a plan; and 

 with authority to confer with them officially as to details, I have no doubt that most of the 

 governments of the world would undertake, each for itself and within its own territories, a 

 corresponding series of observations, so that we should then be able to study the movements 

 of this great atmospherical machinery of our planet as a whole, and not, as hitherto, in isolated 

 detached parts. 



"N. B. — Series of observations more or less extensive have been undertaken in various 

 parts of the country, and for objects more or less general and useful. Among them may be 

 mentioned those of the Smithsonian Institution, under the direction of Prof. Henry, the 

 immediate object of which is an investigation of the law of storms. Several of the States, 

 and many individuals, are co-operating with him ; also those of Louisiana by Dr. Barton, con- 

 cerning sanitary laws, and those of Prof. Espy and others. 



"It is hardly necessary to add that the plan now proposed is not calculated to interfere 

 with any of these ; on the contrary, it is in furtherance of them all, and differs from them 

 only in being universal, and in establishing co-operation and concert between the observers at 

 sea and those on land." 



Indications of Weather as shown by Animals, Insects, and Plants. 



The following interesting communication was made to the American Association, Cleveland, 

 by Mr. W. B. Thomas, of Cincinnati, Ohio : — 



" The possibility of foretelling weather has occupied the attention of observers of natural 

 facts from the earliest period of our records ; the certainty with which any thing is arrived 

 at on this subject, like all other parts of natural science, depends upon the knowledge 

 acquired of those things with which nature has most intimately connected it. 



"Without indulging in any comment, I will state a few particulars in regard to the different 

 indicators with which nature has supplied us. 



"When a pair of migratory birds have arrived in the spring, they immediately prepare to 

 build their nest, making a careful reconnoissance of the place, and observing the character of 

 the season that is coming. If it be a windy one, they thatch the straw and leaves on the inside 

 of the nest, between the twigs and the fining; and, if it be very windy, they get pliant twigs 

 and bind the nest firmly to the limb, securing all the small twigs with their saliva. If they 

 fear the approach of a rainy season, they build their nests so as to be sheltered from the 

 weather. But if a pleasant one, they build in the fair open place, without taking any of these 

 extra precautions. In recording these facts, we have kept duly registered the name of the 

 bird ; the time of arrival in spring ; the commencement of nesting ; the materials of nest, 

 and its position ; the commencement of laying ; number of eggs in each nest ; commence- 

 ment of incubation ; appearances of young ; departure in autumn. 



"But it is our insects and smaller animals which furnish us with the best means of deter- 

 mining the weather. 



