GREEN WOODPECKER. 147 



which are indicated by particular actions : thus birds, and 

 other animals,* covered only with the production of their 

 highly-sensible skin, become living barometers to good ob- 

 servers. The Green Woodpecker is one of the earliest 

 birds to retire to rest in the afternoon. 



I have occasionally, in the History of our Fishes and 

 Birds, endeavoured to give the explanation or derivation of 

 some of the names applied to our British species, and it is 

 hoped that such attempts, though sometimes unsuccessful, 



* Mr. Scrope, in his excellent book on the Art of Deer-stalking, says, 

 " The Deer, like many other animals, seem to foresee every change of 

 weather ; at the approach of a storm they leave the higher hills, and de- 

 scend to the low grounds, sometimes even two days before the change 

 takes place. Again, at the approach of a thaw, they leave the low grounds, 

 and go to the mountains by a similar anticipation of change." 



" The Goat a foreteller of storms. On the evening of the day preceding 

 that on which a late severe storm commenced, one of the shepherds of a re- 

 spectable farmer living in the neighbourhood, remarked on his return home 

 from the hills, that a violent storm was at hand. When asked his reason 

 for thinking so, he replied, ' The goats have all gathered into the wood ' a 

 circumstance that only takes place when a storm is at hand." Copied from 

 the Banff Journal. 



Weather indications from Birds see Missel Thrush, Storm Cock, Robin, 

 Swan, and others. From Fish Salmon : " There is one very curious 

 fact which we have always observed to be a never-failing case, that is, 

 their knowledge of coming storms, and changes of weather. During a 

 run of good weather and fair fishing, the fish are certain to stop running a 

 day or two before a storm, or any visible appearance of a change of weather 

 takes place; and during the storm, or when at its worst, if we find the fish 

 on the move forward, we are quite certain that a break of the storm is 

 near. We have often told our friends and men when we were to have a 

 change of weather, which never failed to be the case ; and our information 

 was got entirely from the water thermometer, which is more certain than 

 the mercury in the common tube." Natural History of the Salmon. A. 

 Young. Orr and Co., 1848. Pages 40, 41. Another instance may be 

 quoted. " I thought the river was all the better for a flood, when clear 1 

 Better after a flood from rain ; for this brings the fish up, who know when 

 rain is coming, and likewise brings down food and makes the fish feed. 

 But when the water is raised by a strong wind, the fish never run, as they 

 are sure to find no increase in the spring heads, which are their objects in 

 running." Sir Humphry Davy. Salmonia. Murray, 1851. Page 90. 

 Edited by Dr. John Davy. 



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