MORBID STATICS OF SENSATION. 
243 
they stand with extended nostrils, and with the head up snuffing 
the air, the farmer suspects tiiat rain is not far distant*. 
When the swine run squeaking about, throwing up their heads 
with a peculiar jerk, and carrying pieces of straw in their mouths, 
it is said that windy weather is near at hand. The country 
people say that “ the pigs certainly see the wind.” 
The sheep either crowd to the best part of the pasture, or 
indulge in unusual gambols and vagaries. 1 once resided near 
Kingston, and had lodgings opposite to Hampton Court Park ; 
and I needed no more certain barometer than the deer. As soon 
as I got out of bed, I used to observe in what part of the park 
they were. If I could see many of them, and towards the Duke 
of Gloucester’s Lodge, it would be a rainy day ; and it would be 
useless for me to get my fishing tackle in order. If there were a few 
of them straying about in that direction, it would be one of those 
cloudy and partially showery days when I was sure to get sport. 
If I could not see one of them, I might be guided by other cir- 
cumstances as to my expedition ; but one thing was certain, 
that not a drop of rain would fall on that day. 
Indications continued . — I will not much longer detain you 
about this. “ When the ducks quack loud, the peacocks cry — ” 
when the cock crows at unusual hours, and crows a great deal in 
the daytime, and particularly in summer — when the poultry are 
more than usually busy in oiling their feathers — when the water- 
fowl more frequently wash themselves, and flutter about in the 
water, or take wing, and dash along with unusual clamour — 
when the swallows fly low, and the missel thrush sings most 
loudly, and yet most beautifully — when the pigeons return 
slowly and unwillingly to the dove-houses, long before the close 
of day — when the familiarized and half-tamed redbreast pecks 
most impatiently against our windows — when the rooks return 
home early, or if they remain in the fields are joined, in greater 
quantities than usual, by the jack-daw and the starling, or when 
they whirl furiously round, and dart rapidly down from an im- 
mense height in the air (*' they seem precipitate to fall, as if 
they felt the piercing ball”); rain is at no great distance, and 
storms will accompany the rain. All these circumstances, gentle- 
men, do not indicate any morbid state of sensation, but a pecu- 
liarity of it, wisely and kindly given to them as a warning of 
approaching inconvenience or danger. Some of you, who have 
not quite forgotten your classical learning, will probably recol- 
* Bueula coelum 
Suspiciens, patulis captavit naribus auras. 
Viug. Georg. /. 
