224 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



"We will now take the 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, they exude this moisture from their bodies. We will take, for example, the 

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

 changes to a light red, then deep red, then yellow, and lastly to a dark brown. The helix is 

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

 once, but this is not in conformity to its 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 

 ascending the bark of trees and getting on the leaves. The helices arborea, indentata, ruderati, 

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

 claumligera, Pennsylvanica, and elevata, 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 on the out- 

 side. The luccinea have also the same habits, but the color of the animals differs, as before 

 the rain it is 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 pores opened, are stretched to their utmost to receive the water. 

 Also, for a few days before a rain, a large and deep indention appears in the helix thyroideus, 

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

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

 if they arrive before the rain descends, they seek 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 the helix albolabris, 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, thyroideus, and 

 albalabris, 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 appressa, tridentata, falla, and paliata, indicate the weather 

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

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

 just before the rain, it is of a yellowish white color. Also just before a rain, strise are 

 observed to appear from the point of the head to the jointure of the shell. The superior 

 tentacula are striated, and the sides are covered with tubercles. These helices move at the rate 

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

 a sure indication of a rain. They live in the cavities in the side of cliffs. The helix hir- 

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

 the edges of the animal. The tentacula are marked by a cross striae, and there is also 

 to be seen, a few days before the rain, an indentation which grows deeper as the rain 

 approaches : this 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 insects. 



" The leaves of trees are even good barometers ; most of them, for a short, light rain, will 

 turn up so as to receive their fill of water ; but for a long rain, they are so doubled as to 

 conduct the water away. 



"The rana, bufo, and hyla are also sure indicators of rain, for, as they do not drink 

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

 pect rain. 



" The locusta and gryllus are also good indicators of a storm. A few hours before the rain, 

 they are to be found under the leaves of trees and in the hollow trunks. We have many 

 times found them thus, but we have never known the instinct of these little fellows to lead 

 them to unnecessary caution." 



