WEATHER-WISE BEASTS AND BIRDS 283 



weather mean much to wild life, and we are prepared 

 to believe they are forewarned. A storm may mean 

 the loss of a meal to a fox, a ruined nest to a bird, 

 an end of all things to an insect. The fox has done 

 well that has eaten heartily before the storm. Yet 

 it appears that a change of weather must be near at 

 hand before wild creatures take notice. The pheasant 

 crows before the thunderstorm because he hears 

 distant thunder. The wheatear, a bird nervous of 

 clouds, flies to shelter as the cloud drives up. It is 

 the first touch of cold weather that sets squirrels 

 hiding nuts. 



Weather has a marked effect on the moods of wild 

 creatures. There are days when hares or partridges 

 seem overcome by oppression ; they move listlessly 

 if disturbed, and lie or sit about as though all energy 

 had gone from them. Thunder in the air may be the 

 cause, or perhaps snow is coming ; when the storm 

 has blown over, liveliness is restored, and new life 

 inspires all things. Before a storm, partridges in the 

 stubble-fields set up their feathers, and in cold weather 

 the feathers of many birds have the appearance of 

 being puffed out, so that they look almost twice their 

 usual size. Many creatures feed at an unusually 

 early hour if storms are coming. It is a bad sign when 

 rabbits are out feeding in the fields early on a bright 

 sunshiny afternoon. The birds of the open fields 

 rooks, starlings, pigeons, or fieldfares feed hungrily 

 and hastily while rain-clouds overshadow the sky ; 

 but it is a sign of good weather when rooks fly to feed 



