There are certain actions of birds that indicate many things pertaining
to the weather that are interesting. It is probable that their ability
to fly into the air gives them a view of the horizon, that by instinct
they have been able to determine the atmospheric changes. For instance,
it is well known that if birds of long flight remain at their base, it
generally foretells a storm. The sudden silence of birds has been
referred to a great many times preceding a storm.
Barnyard fowls do many peculiar things that foretell certain weather
conditions. The crow flies low and in great circles, cawing loudly,
before approaching rain.
Sometimes the house fly is a pretty good barometer. Generally before a
storm they seem to light on everything, particularly persons, and we
call them “sticky.” Generally at these times they congregate in swarms.
Most everyone is familiar with the gnat. They are one of the few insects
that gives us indications and good signs, and when you see them forming
in groups and moving along in front of you, you may expect fair weather.
There are many other interesting facts and fairy tales about indications
by animals and insects, but there is nothing scientific about them. It
has been demonstrated that there is nothing conclusive to be drawn from
such signs, so we will not attempt to waste pages of this book
reiterating these fables.
Certain actions of insects and animals give indications and enable the
weather prophet to prophesy. The spider is a good example of an insect
prophet, and if you will observe him carefully, you will find that when
stormy weather is going to come on he shortens his webs, and if he
anticipates a long, hard storm, he not only shortens the strings that
hold up the web, but he strengthens them as well, and vice-versa, when
he anticipates fine weather, he lengthens his strands of the web. When
you see the spider cease his activities and he hangs pretty close to his
home, which is the center of the web, you will know that rain is
approaching. On the other hand, if he continues to spread about during a
storm, you can be pretty certain that it is not going to be of very long
duration.
The frog is a good example of an animal prophet. There is a green frog
which has been studied in Germany, which will come out of the water when
rainy weather or cold is approaching. Some observers have placed these
frogs in a glass jar with a landing provided so that he can come out of
the water when he wants to, and he is always observed high and dry above
the water several hours in advance of a storm.
DEFINITE CONCLUSIONS
Forecasting Weather by Means of Instruments
The first part of this book may not appeal to you, if you are of a
scientific trend of mind, but it is quite essential that you possess a
knowledge of the fundamentals treated in the earlier pages in order to
thoroughly understand the weather instruments we will now describe.
These instruments are the scientific means of forecasting what the
weather is going to be. They definitely indicate certain things, and
from these indications you are going to be able to draw conclusions and
become a scientist or meteorologist. The success that you attain will
depend upon the accuracy of the instruments and the care you use in
reading them. You will be able to rig up a Weather Bureau of your own,
and the use of these instruments will interest anyone in a study of the
weather.