NATURE'S WEATHER PROPHETS 279 



downpour will not last long, and will be followed by 

 fine weather. Observation has taught that the 

 spider makes changes in its web every twenty-four 

 hours, and that if such changes are made in the 

 evening, just before sunset, the night will be clear 

 and beautiful. 



Sleeping is characteristic of certain plants, and 

 though it was at one time thought that this might 

 have reference to the habits of insects, it is now 

 believed to be more dependent on the weather. 

 The tiny scarlet pimpernel, the " old man's weather- 

 glass," opens at seven and closes soon after two. 

 The daisy unfolds its flower at sunrise and sleeps at 

 sunset. Dandelions close up at about five o'clock; 

 at which time the white water-lily has been asleep 

 an hour and the mouse-ear chick weed two hours. 

 The yellow goafs-beard opens at four and closes 

 just before twelve, and has for its English name 

 "John -go - to - bed - at - noon." Local circumstance 

 influences the flowers in their opening and closing, 

 though they are pretty constant from day to day. 

 Many flowers close their petals during rain probably 

 to prevent the honey and pollen from being rendered 

 useless or washed away. 



Birds are admirable weather prophets, and from 

 their number and obtrusiveness have furnished many 

 examples. In his Paradise of Birds, Mr Courthope 

 makes one of them say: 



