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Habits of Animals 
[November, 
“ cram ” will flourish, denounce it as we may. The only 
way to its extinction, and consequently to thoroughness, lies 
through specialism. 
III. HABITS OF ANIMALS IN RELATION TO 
THE WEATHER. 
By the Rev. S. Barber, F.M.S. 
f HE habits of animals, and notably of the insect world, 
have for ages been admitted into the category of in- 
dicators of weather change. Much difficulty, however, 
has been found in interpreting these habits and movements, 
— a difficulty only to be overcome by long-continued, patient, 
and close observation of particular species. It is indeed 
somewhat remarkable that popular attention has been 
arrested, in this respeCt, by the habits of various species to 
which in a general way but little credit is given for intelli- 
gence, sagacity, or sensitiveness. 
To associate the movements of ducks and geese (espe- 
cially in a wild state) with weather changes in regard to rain 
and floods, which affeCt their habitations and supply of food, 
seems natural enough ; but we find also such animals as the 
ram, the pig, and other thick-skinned creatures recognised 
as prophetical in weather lore and popular tradition. There 
is something taking in the notion of an astronomer gaining 
information of the approaching storm from the wagging of 
a ram’s tail ; and those whose occupation entails respedt 
for, and attention to, the animal world, are often disposed 
to attribute to dogs or swine faculties denied to themselves, 
— as, for example, that the former are cognizant of spiritual 
phenomena, and that the latter can see the wind. The re- 
searches of modern zoologists* have certainly brought to 
light an amount of intelligence among the lower orders of 
animals that we little suspedted in former times ; and the 
attempt to elicit and develop, by careful training, such intel- 
ligence, has become to many an interesting pastime. We 
notice, also, that an exceptional regard to the habits of par- 
ticular species has not only found an embodiment in the 
* Recently the researches of Dr. M‘Cook in regard to the ant deserve espe- 
cial attention. 
