224 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



"Wo will DOW t:ikc tho snails, and show the various phenomena they present. These ani- 

 mals do not drink, but Imbibe moisture in their bodies during a rain. At regular periods 

 after the rain, tiny exude this moisture from their bodies. We will take, for example, the 

 helix alternate. The first fluid exuded is the pure liquid. When this is exhausted, it then 

 Changes t" a light red, then deep rid, then yellow, and lastly to a dark brown. The helix is 

 very careful not 1" exude more of its moisture than is necessary. It might exude it all at 

 once, but this is not in conformity to it- general character, as this would prove too great an 

 exertion. The helix alternata is never seen abroad, except before a rain, when we find it 

 nding the bark of trees and getting on the leaves. The helices arborea, inaentala, ruderati, 

 and mmuta, are also seen ascending the stems of plants two days before a rain. The helices 

 clan Pentuylvanica, and elevala, generally begin to crawl about two days before the 



rain will descend. They are seen ascending the stems of plants. If it be a long and hard 

 rain, they get on the sheltered side of the leaf, but if a short one, they get mi the out- 

 side. The luccinca have also the same habits, but the color of the animals differs, u before 

 the rain it i- of a yellow color, while after it is a blue. The helices solitaria, zaleta, albolabris, 

 and thyroideus, not only show signs by means of exuding fluids, but by means of pores and 

 protuberances. Before a rain, the bodies of zaleta and helix thyroideus have large tubercles 

 rising from them. 



"These tubercles commence showing themselves ten days previous to the fall of rain they 

 indicate ; at the end of each of these tubercles is a pore. At the time of the fall of the rain, 

 these tubercles, with their pore- opened, are stretched to their utmost to receive the water. 

 Also, for a few day- before a rain, a large and deep indention appears in the helix thyroida/.-, 

 beginning on the head between the horns, and ending with the jointure at the shell. The 

 helices solitaria and zaleta, a few day- before a rain, crawl to the most exposed hillside, where, 

 if tiny arrive before the rain descends, the; Beak some crevice in the rocks, and then close 

 the aperture of the shell with glutinous substance, which, when the rain approaches, they 

 dissolve, and are then seen crawling about. In tl/e helix albolabrii, the tubercles begin to 

 arise after a rain, while before they grew smaller, and at the time of the rain; the body of 

 the snail is filled with cavities to receive the moisture. The helices zaleta, thyroideuf, and 

 albolabris, move along at the rate of a mile in forty-four hours. They inhabit the most dense 

 forests, and we regard it as a sure indication of rain to observe them moving towards an 

 exposed situation. The helices appreeea, tridentata, folia, and paliata, indicate the weather 

 not only by exuding fluids, but by the color of the animal. After a rain, the animal has 

 ry dark appearance, but it grows of a brighter color as the water is expended; while 

 jn-t before the rain, it is of a yellowish white color. Also just before a rain, stria} are 

 observed to a].]. ear from the point of the lovol to tin' jointure of the shell. The superior 



■■it/,/ are Btriated, and the sid< - are 001 ered with tubercle-. These /"Hers move at the rate 

 of a mile in fourteen days and sixteen hours. If they are observed ascending the cliff, it is 

 a -ure indication of a rain. They lire in the cavities in the side of cliffs. The helix hir- 



suta is of a black color after a rain, but before, it i- of a brown, tinged with blue around 

 the edges of the animal. The tentacvla arc marked by a cross stria?, and there is also 

 to 1 ■ ■ few days before the rain, an indentation which grows deeper as the rain 



approachet : til- helix also exudes fluids, but not with the changes of color of those before 

 mentioned. 



"We can also foretell a change of weather by the wasps and other insert^. 



"The leaves of trees are even good bai ictcn f them, for a short, light rain, will 



turn up ■ ive their fill of water; but for a long rain, they are M doubled as to 



Conduct the water away. 



'•The rana, buf«, and hyla are :1 1-,, gure indicators of rnin, for, a- they do not drink 



water, but absorb it into their bodies, they are sure to be found out at the time they ex- 

 rain. 



" Tic and yryllu.i arc also good indicators of a storm. A few hours before the rain, 



they are to be found under t ; of tree- and in the hollow trunks We have many 



times fund them thus, but P a have never known the instinct of these little fellows to lead 

 them to unnecessary caution." 



