BOOK X\'III. Lxxxvi. 36o-Lxx\'vii. 363 



LXXX\ I. And predictions are also given by j/iw 

 certain sounds occurring in the mountains and by signs"^ 

 moanino-s of the forests and leaves rustlincr without 



o & 



any breeze being perceptible ; and by the down ofF 

 poplars and tliorns fluttering, and feathers floating 

 on the surface of water, and also in bells" a pecuhar 

 ringing souud foretelUng a storm about to come. 



LXXX\'1I. Presages are also given by animals : weather 

 for instance dolphins sporting in a calm sea prophesv hyali',wh, 

 wind froni the quarter from which they come, and /"''• '""■'^- 

 Hkewise when splashing the water in a billowy sea 

 they also presage calm weather. A cuttle-fish 

 Huttering out of the water, shell-fisli adhering to 

 objects, and sea-urchins making themselves fast or 

 ballasting themselves with sand are signs of a storm ; so 

 also frogs croaking more than usual, and coots making 

 a chattering in the niorning, and Hkewise divers and 

 ducks cleamng their feathers with their beak are a 

 sign of wind, and the other water-birds flocking to- 

 gether, cranes hastening inland, and divers and sea- 

 gulls forsaking the sea or the marshes. Ci-anes 

 flying high aloft in silence foretell fine weather, and 

 so also does the ni"ht-owl when it screeches durincr 

 a shower, but it prophesies a storm if it screeches in 

 iine weather, and so do crows croaking with a sort 

 of gurgle and shaking themselves, if the sound is 

 continuous, but if they swallow it down in gulps, 

 this foretells gusty rain. Jays returning late from 

 feeding foretell stormy weather, and so do the 

 wliite birds ^ when they collect in flocks, and hind 

 birds when they clamour while facing a piece of 

 water and sprinkle themselves, but especially a rook; 

 a swallow skinuning along so close to the water that 

 she repeatedly strikes it with her wing; and birds 



415 



