142 
SIGNS OF RAIN. 
liquid,— it would drop at once to the 
ground.” 
*“I thought weather-signs were all non¬ 
sense,” said Annie. 
“By no means,” replied her grandfather. 
“ Many of them are very reliable; and 
those who are used to an out-of-door life 
may guide their motions tolerably well by 
watching the motions of animals and 
plants.” 
“I have noticed one thing myself with 
respect to the chickens, especially in sum¬ 
mer,” observed Miss Winston. “If at the 
commencement of a shower you see them 
huddling under cover, the shower is apt to 
be a short one; hut if they come out and 
go picking about, with their feathers wet, the 
rain generally lasts for several hours at least. 
I have always heard that when pigs are seen 
running about and squealing, carrying 
straws in their mouths, it is ordinarily a 
forerunner of a long storm.” 
“ How can animals know any thing about 
such things ?” asked Annie, rather incredu- 
lously. 
“ How they can, my dear, I cannot pre¬ 
tend to say; but no one can he in the habit 
