140 OF PROGNOSTICKS. CHAP. 4. 1. 



prognosticks of Storms are mentioned by the old 

 Greek writers which are not observed on our 

 shores, neither do we know exactly what birds 

 they alluded to. I have observed that previous 

 to windy weather Pigs seem very uneasy and 

 run about throwing up their heads and squeak- 

 ing. 



Magpies before and during Wind fly about in 

 small companies, and make a fluttering noise. 



When the Seagulls come in numbers to 

 shore, and make a noise about the coast; or 

 when, at sea, they alight on ships, the sailors 

 consider it a sure foreboding of a Storm. These 

 circumstances were known of old.* Before 

 Storms, too, the Porpus, Dolphin, and Grampus, 

 come to the shore in large bodies. 



When Dolphins play about the surface of a 

 calm sea, Pliny observes Wind may be expected 

 from that quarter from which they have come.f 

 Authors have added tame Swans flying against 

 the Wind as a sign of Rain, which I have 

 observed to be true at Withyham, where 

 Swans and numerous other Waterfowl inhabit 

 the ponds. 



* Virg. Geor. lib. 1. Plin. lib. xviii. c. 35. 

 t Plin. Hist. Nat. lib. xviii. 35. 



