tt M. W. Harrington— Weather making. 
But the birds are not only effective in making rain; they can 
exert still greater influence. The kildee, or killdeer plover, is 
said, in Maryland, to call up the wind by his ery of “ kildee, 
kildee!” while to kill him would cause a violent storm (Dr 
Fletcher). The Kiowa of Indian territory attribute to the kill- 
deer the bringing of spring (James Mooney, Washington). 
Another popular association between animals and rain is the 
idea that by certain treatment of some animals definite results 
in the way of, rain-making can be obtained. For instance, on 
Santee river, in South Carolina, it is believed that if you catch 
an alligator, tie him to a tree, and whip him to death it will be 
certain to bring rain (Dr W. W. Anderson). This seems to be a 
fragment of negro folk-lore. In Massachusetts it is said that if 
you see or step on a frog it is a sure sign of rain, while in Maine 
they say, “ Kill a frog and it will rain before morning” (Miss F. 
D. Bergen). This association of rain with the toad is general 
over the United States. Still another folk-lore remnant of the 
same sort relates to snakes. It is a curious fact that among 
many races the snake is supposed to have some relations with 
the weather. Mr James Mooney says, “The belief in a con- 
nection between rain and snakes is quite general among Indian 
tribes. The snake dance is intended to bring rain. The Indians 
of Indian territory turn a dead snake on its back to bring rain.” 
It is a piece of negro folk-lore that hanging a dead snake on a 
tree will bring rain in a few hours. Further northward it runs 
“ Hang up a snake skin and it will bring rain.” This refers to 
the cast-off skin. In northern Illinois the expression is, “ Hang 
up a snake’s cast-off skin on the crab-apple tree and it will bring 
rain.” The snake has played a very important part in weather 
making, and to it has been attributed many other magical 
powers. 
An interesting series of superstitions with reference to weather 
making are those which are common to sailors, who haye a 
well known half-serious belief that one can raise wind by whis- 
tling. In Newfoundland they say, “ Stick a knife in the main- 
mast and whistle, and it must produce wind.” In Newfound- 
land, also, they have an idea that if a vessel is becalmed wind 
can be produced by throwing overboard a half-penny. Another 
notion, common also to the same sailors, is that if you put the 
end of the sheet overboard it will produce wind, and that if you 
hit it three times across the thwarts it will stop the rain. Mr 
