850 MANUAL OF MODERN FxVRRIEIlY. 



previous to rain, to be very assiduous in distributing this oil 

 over their feathers, in order to prepare thera for resisting the 

 wet during the approaching change. 



Martins and swallows, and such birds as feed upon insects 

 on the wing, are remarkably active previously to rain, and fly 

 near the earth in search of their food. 



Several species of insects come abroad on the approach of 

 rain. Some other kinds of insects, such as bees especially, are 

 shy of venturing out when foul weather is to be expected. 

 Snails are particularly active before and after rain. 



Cattle feed with remarkable avidity on the expectancy of 

 bad weather, and retire under trees or hedges, or other shelter, 

 as soon as they are satisfied. In settled fine weather they 

 graze more slowly, and lie abroad, dispersed in the fields, are 

 more careless and at their ease. 



Plais^ts. — The flowers or corolla of most plants, such as 

 the dandelion, common daisy, and many others, close or shut 

 up when rain is impending : this is evidently the case with 

 the common weed called pimpernel, or burnet, which, on this 

 account, has obtained the name of " the Poor Man's Weather- 

 glass,'' The down of the dandelion is much affected by mois- 

 ture in the atmosphere. 



Though these phenomena have never yet been reduced to 

 a regular system, yet from observing carefully the above 

 prognostics, or rather combinations and coincidencies of them, 

 very tolerable conjectures may be formed of the weather 

 which may be expected, particularly with respect to drouglit 

 and moisture. It is observation only, however, which can 

 enable any man to form such conjectures with tolerable accu- 

 racy. The knoAvledge of weather is rather a practical than 

 speculative science : to " discern the face of the sky" was an 

 art possessed by rustics at a very remote period of society ; 

 and at this time the judgment of a shepherd or ploughman 



