NATURAL HISTORY. 



363 



the night have a presentiment of 

 rain. It is believed to be a sign 

 of" bad weather when the swallows 

 fly in such a manner as to brush the 

 surface of the water, and to touch 

 it frequently with their wings and 

 breast. The weather is about to 

 become cloudy and change for the 

 worse when the flies sting and be- 

 come more troublesome than usual. 

 When the gnats collect themselves 

 before the setting of the sun, and 

 form a sort of vortex in the shape 

 of a column, it announces fine wea- 

 ther. When sea-fowl and other 

 aquatic birds retire to the sea shore 

 or marshes, it indicates a change of 

 weather and a sudden storm. If 

 the cranes fly exceedingly high, in 

 silence, and ranged in order, it is a 

 sign of approaching fine weather ; 

 but if they fly in disorder, or imme- 

 diately return with cries, it an- 

 nounces wind. When the dolphins 

 sport and make frequent leaps, the 

 sea being tranquil and calm, it de- 

 notes that the wind will blow from 

 the quarter from which they proceed. 

 If the frogs croak more than usual; 

 if the toads issue from their holes in 

 the evening in great numbers; if 

 the earth-worms come forth from 

 the earth, and scorpions appear on 

 the walls; if the ants remove their 

 eggs from their small hills ; if the 

 m(jles throw up the earth more than 

 usual ; if the asses frequently shake 

 • and agitate their ears ; if the hogs 

 shake and spoilthe stacks of corn; 

 if the bats send forth their cries and 

 fly into the houses; if the dogs roll 

 on the ground and scratch up the 

 eartli with their fore feet ; if the 

 cows look towards the heavens, and 

 turn up their nostrils as if catching 

 some smell ; if the oxen and dogs 

 lie on their right side; all these are 

 signs which announce rain. The 



case is the same when animals croud 

 together. If the flame of a lamp 

 crackles or flares, it indicates rainy 

 weather. The same is the case 

 when the soot detaches itself from 

 the chimney and falls down. It is 

 a sign of rain, also, when the soot, 

 collected around pots or kettles, 

 takes fire in the form of small points, 

 like grains of millet ; because this 

 phenomenon denotes that the air is 

 cold and moist. If the coals seem 

 hotter than usual, or if the flame is 

 more agitated, though the weather 

 be calm at the time, it indicates 

 wind. When the flame burns 

 steady and proceeds straight up- 

 wards, it is a sign of fine weather. 

 If the sound of bells is heard at a 

 great distance it is a sign of wind, 

 or of a change of weather. Good 

 or bad smells, seeming as if con- 

 densed, are a sign of a change of 

 weather. When the spider's webs 

 and leaves of the trees are agitated 

 without any sensible wind, it is a 

 sign of wind and perhaps rain ; be- 

 cause it denotes that strong and pe- 

 netrating exhalations arise from the 

 earth. A want, or too great a 

 quantity of dew, being a mark of a 

 strong evaporation announces rain ; 

 the same is the case with thick 

 white hoar frost, which is only dew 

 congealed. If salt, marble, and 

 glass become moist some days be- 

 fore rain ; if articles of wood, 

 doors, and chests of drawers swell ; 

 if corns on the feet, and scars of old 

 wounds become painful; all these 

 signs indicate that aqueous vapours 

 are exhaled from the earth, and 

 are no doubt directed by the elec- 

 tric matter which diffuses itself then 

 in greater abundance, and pene- 

 trates every body. Hence it ha]> 

 pens that stones become moist, that 

 wood swells, and salt becomes de- 



