of Changes in the JFcathir. 21 S 



birds of iho foreft fliould haftcu to iheirnefis is very natural, 

 as from the Hale of the auuofpherc vhcy nuift approhcnd 

 rain. 



The crying of peacock.-:, except at pairing time, appears 

 to be a phajiiomenon analoiious to the crowing ot cocks. 

 I have often remarked it on a change of weather, and often 

 even on a change of wind. 



That (torks and cranes pkice their hills under their wings, 

 is a phajnomenon remarked aifo amone donieliic fowls wjjcn 

 thev flv to their rooUs to fecure themfelves againft rain. Their 

 })ecking their breafts fcerns to figuity an itching fenfalion in 

 that part of their bodies. 



The croaking of the male green or tree frog fcoms to 

 dciiote an impleafant fenfation, for in fine weaiher I never 

 heard them fend forth the Imalieft Ci-y. But the appearance 

 of toads implies a pleafant fenfation, as thefe animals arc fo 

 fond of Iivini>- in dirt. 



Ants labour with great diligence, and bees haflen home, 

 and do not fly far from their hives, l)ecaufc tliey follow llieir 

 inftincl:. The former endeavour to consplete their habitations 

 and to fecure themfelves better againii: rain, and perhaps to 

 lay up provifion for the rainy feafon. The latter haften home 

 to their hives, and fly no more abroad, becaufe the wet would 

 impede them in their flight and labour. 



Gnats (cojiops) come into houfes to fecure themfelves from 

 rain, which would impede their (light, and there they atiarh 

 themfelves to the leirs to procure that nourifhment which is 

 denied them without. 



The increafed 1/iting of fleas T cannot explain, 'as the na- 

 tural hiftorv of thefe infects is as yet too obfcure. 



Earth-worms creep from their holes through inftinft, as 

 they can move themfelves forvsar* only upon earth that is 

 ilipperv. 



A prefenftition of dorms I have obfervcd only among the 

 perfecl of the viannnalui, and as yet but among two, viz. 

 man and the dog. Both thefe feeni to have a fenfe of the 

 increafed eleftricity of the almofjihcre. It appears in general, 

 that the more imperfeft animals remark only the approach 

 f)f dry weather; the more perfecl, the approach of rain ; and 

 the nioft perfec-t, the approach of fiornis. All animals, per- 

 haps, with their external fenfcs, and all plants by their or- 

 gans, are fenfible of the variations of the weather : but plants 

 are not here my oijjct-1, and it is not necelVary to prove tiie 

 influence of the weather on them, as it is fufliciently appa- 

 rent to every obferver. Here I allude only to the external 

 expreirion of internal fenfations, as may be feen by the ad- 



4 diiccd 



