WEATHER AND THE SKY 209 



know that only in the early hours of the day is the 

 sign significant. 



(Parenthetically, we might suggest that a delightful 

 essay is yet to be written on Bones as a Barometer. 

 Almost every family has at least one member who feels 

 the coming of bad weather "in his bones," the fact that 

 rheumatism is now known to be a muscular complaint 

 having no effect on the hallowed phraseology. And 

 in my boyhood there was not a village so small but it 

 boasted a veteran whose honourable bullet wound 

 throbbed at the approach of a storm.) 



During the day there are a thousand signs to ob- 

 serve, if you are wise in weather lore, quite too numer- 

 ous to mention here. There is, for instance, the whirl- 

 wind, a little spiral of dust and dry leaves, which so 

 often springs up mysteriously and goes waltzing across 

 a road or a field. If it revolves from right to left the 

 weather will continue fair, but if it revolves the other 

 way rain will soon follow. Then, too, if you see the 

 sheep feeding more eagerly than usual, look out for 

 rain, or if the frogs are jumping with unwonted liveli- 

 ness in the meadows. If the chimney swallows flock 

 high and dart about excitedly, watch for thunder show- 

 ers or high wind, while if the barn swallows fly very 

 low, rain is coming. If it is already raining, watch the 

 chickens. If they stay under cover the storm will not 

 last long. If, however, they go out into the yard or 

 runway, in spite of the wetting, the storm may be 



