278 WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



of predicting weather changes is by observing the 

 habits of snails. Snails never drink, but imbibe 

 moisture during rain and exude it afterwards. They 

 are seldom seen abroad except before rain, when they 

 commence climbing trees and getting upon leaves. 

 The tree snail is so sensitive to weather that it 

 will commence to climb two days before the rain 

 comes. If the downpour is to be prolonged the 

 snail [seeks the under part of a leaf ; but if a 

 short or light rain is coming on it stays on the 

 outside. There is another species which is yellow 

 before and bluish after it. Others indicate 

 change by dents and protuberances resembling 

 tubercles. These begin to show themselves several 

 days before rain, and when it comes the pores 

 of the tubercles open and draw in the moisture. 

 In others again deep indentations, beginning at the 

 head between the horns and ending with the jointure 

 of the tail appear a few days before a storm. One 

 of the simplest of Nature's barometers is a spider's 

 web. When there is a prospect of wind or rain the 

 spider shortens the filaments by which its web is 

 sustained and leaves it in this state as long as the 

 weather is variable. If it elongates its threads it is 

 a sign of fine calm weather, the duration of which 

 may be judged by the length to which the threads 

 are let out. If the spider remains inactive it is a 

 sign of rain; if it keeps at work during rain the 



