104 THE SEASON WHY. 



As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee 

 O God." PSALM XLII. 



Because by night the temperature of the air, heated during the 

 day, falls to that degree which condenses its vapours into rain. 



436. WTiy do hunches of dried sea-weed indicate the 

 'probability of coming rain ? 



Because they readily imbibe moisture, and when they become 

 soft and damp they show that the air is approaching the point of 

 saturation. 



437. Why does the weather-toy, called the " weather-cock" 

 foretell the probability of rain ? 



Because it is made with a piece of cat-gut which swells with 

 moisture, and as it swells, shrinks. The cat-gut is so applied that 

 when it shrinks, it turns a rod which sends the man out of the 

 house, and when it dries it sends the woman out. Therefore, 

 when the man appears, it is a sign of wet, and when the woman 

 appears it is a sign of dry weather. 



There is another toy, called the Capuchin, which is made upon the same 

 principle. The figure lifts a hood over its head when wet is approaching, and 

 takes it off when the weather is becoming dry. In this case, a piece of cat-gut 

 is also employed. Various weather-toys may be made upon this principle 

 among others, a little umbrella, which will open on the approach of wet, and 

 close on the return of fine weather. ' 



A gentleman once made a wooden horse, which he declared should of itself 

 walk across a room, without machinery of any kind. The assertion was 

 discredited; but the horse was placed in a room close to the wall on one side. 

 The room was locked, and otherwise fastened, so that no one could interfere 

 with the experiment. After a time the door was opened, and it was found 

 that the horse had actually crossed the floor, and stood on the opposite 

 side. The horse was made from wood of a peculiar kind, liable to great 

 expansion in wet weather, and cut in a manner to produce the greatest 

 elongation. The fore hoofs were so made that where they were set they woul 

 remain, so that the contracting parts should draw up from behind. It is easj 

 to understand how, in this way, the wooden horse crossed the apartment. 



438. Wliy does ladies* hair drop out of curl upon the 

 approach of damp weather ? 



Because the hair absorbs moisture, which causes its spirals to 

 relax and unfold. 



439 Why is it said in mountainous countries that rain is 



