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A Country Year - Weather Lore.

February 6th to February 23rd

From the Diss Express (1884) - Weather-wise folk cannot in any way equal many animals in respect of the accuracy with which they foretell the weather. The American wit tells us never to prophesy unless we know, and if this be applied to the humble prophets here referred to, it will be found that their knowledge is seldom at fault, for their predictions usually come true. The peacock screams for rain: gnats dance in clouds for fine weather, the stormy petrels follow vessels in token of tempest. The garden geometrical spider's web is regulated by the coming state of the air. Should it tend to rain or wind, the principal threads are made very short and thick, but they are spun much longer for fine days. No matter how bad the weather may be, it may be safely inferred that it will soon change to settled fair should the spider be seen to repair its damaged web. A missel thrush uttering its loud harsh cry from the top of a high tree at the end of winter or in spring, is supposed to foretell the approach of snow or sleet. It is a sign of wet when cattle in the fields paw the earth and sniff the air; when ducks and geese plunge frequently in ponds, or fly in circles, of flap the water with their wings; when fowls roll about in their dust-baths more than is their wont; when chanticleer makes night hideous with his crowing; when swallows fly low. Plentiful marks of earthworms on the surface of the ground; toads leaping across paths at sunset; ants removing their eggs from lesser mounds to the shelter of their nests - these are all indications to our "country cousins" of falling weather. When the next day is to be fine and warm, bats appear in great numbers, and stay out late; but if they often call out shrilly and fly into the house windows they prophesy a coming storm.

From the Diss Express Richard Inwards (1894) - As regards animals, there seems to be no doubt that they are cognisant of approaching changes in the state of air long before their masters are. "The howling of dogs portends a storm," "When a cat scratches the table legs a change is coming," "If horses stretch out their necks and snuff the air rain will ensure," "When cattle remain on hill tops fine weather will come," "If sheep gambol and fight or retire to shelter, it preages a change in the weather," are a few examples of the prognostications. Birds, too, are weather sensitive. "When summer birds take their flight summer goes with them," "If birds be silent expect thunder," "The tumbling of rooks is one of the best-known signs of rain," while "If owls hoot at night expect fair weather.

From Weather Lore compiled by Richard Inwards (1898) - The observations of naturalists, shepherds, herdsmen, and others who have been brought much in to contact with animals, have convinced them that these creatures are cognisant of approaching changes in the state of the air long before we know of their coming by other signs. To many kinds of animals, birds, and insects, the weather is of so much more importance than to us, that it would be wonderful if Nature had not provided them with a more keenly prophetic instinct in this respect. The occurrence of a storm would, doubtless, be the means of depriving some of the Carnivora of a meal, and it is known that utter destruction would occur to the nests of some birds if the tenants were absent during a gale of wind or a pelting shower; while vast numbers of insects the state of the weather for the fraction of a week may determine the whole time during which they can enjoy their little lives. To enable all these creatures to prepare for coming trouble, they have credited with what is to us an unknown sense informing them of minute changes in the atmosphere.

A Country Year - Weather Lore.

February 6th to February 23rd

It has long been observed that they eat with more avidity, return to their homes, or become unusually restless, before the coming of danger of which they seem to be forewarned.

If animals crowd together there will be a storm.

When dogs eat grass, it will be rainy. The unusual howling of dogs portends a storm,

When a cat sneezes, it is a sign of rain. Cats with their tails up and hair apparently electrified indicate approaching wind. When cats wipe their jaws with their feet, it is a sign of rain, and especially when they put their paws over their ears in wiping.

Horses and mules, if very lively without cause, indicate cold. Horses sweating in the stable is a sign of rain. If they start more than ordinary and are restless and uneasy, or if they assemble in the corner of a field with their heads leeward, expect rain.

If bulls lick their hoofs or kick about, expect rain. If the bull lead the van in going to pasture, rain must be expected; but if he is careless, and allow the cows to precede him, the weather will be uncertain. If oxen turn up their nostrils and sniff the air, or if they lick their forefeet, or lie on their right side, it will rain.

If old sheep turn their backs towards the wind, and remain so for some time, wet and windy weather is coming. Old sheep are said to eat greedily before a storm, and sparingly before a thaw.

When pigs carry straw to their sites, bad weather may be expected. Pigs can see the wind.

When the moles throw up fresh earth during a frost, it will thaw in less than forty-eight hours. If moles throw up more earth than usual, rain is indicated.

It rats are more restless that usual, rain is at hand.

If mice run about more than usual, wet weather may be expected.

It will rain if bats cry much or fly into the house. If bats abound and are vivacious, fine weather may be expected. If bats fly abroad after sunset, fair weather.

If birds begin to whistle in the early morning in winter, it abodes frost. If birds return slowly to their nests, rain will follow. When birds of long flight - rooks, swallows, or others - hang about the home, and fly up and down or low, rain or wind may be expected.

If fowls grub the dust and clap their wings, or if their wings droop, or if they into a house, it indicates rain. When they look towards the sky, or roost in daytime, expect rain; but if they dress their feathers during a storm, it is about to cease; while standing on one leg is a sign of cold weather. When fowls collect together, and pick or straighten their feathers, expect a change.

If ducks and geese fly backwards and forwards, and continually plunge in water and wash themselves incessantly, wet weather will ensue.

Guinea-fowl squall more than usual before rain. This bird, called the "come-back" in Norfolk, is regarded as an invoker of rain. It often continues clamorous throughout the whole of rainy days.

Magpies flying three or four together and uttering harsh cries predict windy weather. For anglers in spring it is always unlucky to see single magpies; but two may always be regarded as a favourable omen. And the reason is, that in cold and stormy weather one magpie alone leaves the nest in search of food, the other remaining sitting with her eggs or the young ones; but when two go out together, it is only when the weather is mild and warm, and favourable for fishing.

A Country Year - Weather Lore.

February 6th to February 23rd

When three daws are seen on St. Peter's vane together, then we're sure to have bad weather. - Norwich.

If starlings and crows congregate together in large numbers, expect rain.

When rooks seem to drop in their flight, as if pierced by a shot, it is said to foreshow rain.

The missel-thrush sings particularly loud and long before a storm.

When the thrush sings at sunset, a fair day will follow.

When the voices of blackbirds are unusually shrill, or when blackbirds sing much in the morning, rain will follow.

When woodpeckers are much heard, rain will follow. The yaffel, or green woodpecker (called also the "rainbird") cries at the approach of rain, and is described as "laughing at the sun, because the rain is coming."

An owl hooting quietly in a storm indicates fair weather, and also when it hoots quietly by night in winter.

If owls scream during bad weather, there will be a change. A screeching owl indicates cold or storm.

Long and loud singing robins in the morning denotes rain. If robins are seen near houses, it is a sign of rain.

If swallows touch the water as they fly, rain approaches.

When martins appear, winter has broken. No killing frost after martins.

The titmouse foretells cold, if crying, "Pincher."

If a finch chirps, rain follows.

If sparrows chirps a great deal, wet weather will ensue.

If larks fly high and sing long, expect fine weather. Field-larks congregating in flocks indicate severe cold.

The swan is said to build its nest high before floods, but low when there will not be unusual rains.

When sea-birds fly out early and far to seaward, moderate winds and fair weather may be expected. When they hang about or over it, sometimes flying inland, expect a strong wind with stormy weather. If sea-fowl retire to the shore or marshes, a storm approaches.

Fish rise more than usual at the approach of a storm. When fish bite readily and swim near the surface: they become inactive just before thunder-showers.

If eels are very lively, it is a sign of rain.

When pike lie on the bed of a stream quietly, expect rain or wind.

When black snails cross your path, black cloud much moisture hath. If snails come out abundantly, it is a sign of rain. When black snails on the road you see, then on the morrow rain will be.

If many earth-worms appear, it preages rain. When the common garden worm forms many "casts," rain or frost will follow according to the season of the year. When they appear in the daytime, expect rain; but when early in the evening, it indicates a mild night with heavy dew and two days' fine weather.

The louder the frog, the more the rain. When frogs croak much it is a sign of rain. If frogs make a noise in the time of cold rain, dry weather will follow. Crocking frogs in spring will be three times frozen in.

If toads come out of their holes in great numbers, rain will follow soon.

A Country Year - Weather Lore.

February 6th to February 23rd

Bees will not swam before a near storm. If bees stay at home, rain will soon come; if they fly away, fine will be the day. A bee never gets caught in a shower.

When bees to distance wing their flight,

Days are warm and skies are bright;

But when their flight ends near their home,

Stormy weather is sure to come.

When ants are situated in low ground, their migration may be taken as an indication of approaching heavy rains. Expect stormy weather when ants travel in lines, and fair weather when they scatter. An open ant-hole indicates fair weather; a closed one an approaching storm. If ants are more than ordinarily active, or if they remove their eggs from small, it will surely rain. If ants build new hills, the weather will be clear.

Wasps in great numbers and busy indicate warm weather.

Before rain or wind spiders fix their frame-lines unusually short. If they make them very long, the weather will usually be fine for fourteen days. Spiders generally change their webs once in every twenty-four hours. If they make the change between 6 and 7 p.m., expect a fair night. If they change their web in the morning, a fine day may be expected. Spiders, when they are seen crawling on the walls more than usually, indicate that rain will probably ensue. This prognostic seldom fails, particularly in winter. If spiders break off and remove their webs, the weather will be wet. If spiders make new webs, the weather will be clear. If the spider works during rain, it is an indication that the weather will soon be clear. When the spider cleans its web, fair weather is indicated.

If woodlice run about in great numbers, expect rain.

House flies coming into the house in great numbers indicate rain.

The early appearance of butterflies is said to indicate fine weather. When the white butterfly flies from the south-west, expect rain.

If gnats play up and down, it is sign of heat; but if in the shade, it presages mild showers. If they collect in the evening before sunset, and form a vortex or column, fine weather will follow; while if they sting much, it is held as an unfailing indication of rain. If gnats fly in large numbers, the weather will be fine.

The vegetable world has not escaped the notice of the weather prophets, and many plants have been observed to give indications of stormy weather long before it actually takes place.

When leaves rattle on the trees, expect snow. When leaves show their undersides, be very sure that rain betides. When leaves of trees curl with the wind from the south, it indicates rain. Before rain the leaves of lime, sycamore, plane and poplar trees show a great deal more of their undersides when trembling in the wind.

Dead branches falling in calm weather indicate rain.

The odour of flowers is more apparent just before a shower (when the air is moist) than of any other time. If flowers keep open all night, the weather will be wet next day.

When the down of dandelion contracts, it is a sign of rain. Dandelions close their blossoms before a storm.

The non-closing of the flower-heads of the sow-thistle warns us that it will rain next day, whilst the closing of them denotes fine weather.

A Country Year - Weather Lore.

February 6th to February 23rd

The great white oxeye (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) closes before rain.

There gay chrysanthemums repose,

And when stern tempests lower,

Their silken fringes softly close

Against the shower. - A. S.

Chickweed (Stellaria media) expands its leaves boldly and fully when fine weather is to follow; but it it should shut up, then the traveller is to put on his great-coat. The half opening of the flowers of the chickweed is a sign that the wet will not last long.

Wood sorrel contracts its leaves at the approach of rain.

Clover contracts it leaves at the approach of a storm.

The germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) closes its blue petals before rain, and opens them again when it has ceased.

The convolvulus folds up its petals at the approach of rain.

The burnet saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga) indicates by half opening its flowers that rain is soon to cease.

Pink-eyed pimpernel. Known as the ploughman's weather glass. When this flower closes in the daytime, it is a sign of rain.

We may look for wet weather if the leaves of the whitlow grass (Draba verna) droop, and if lady's bedstraw (Galium verum) becomes inflated and gives out a strong odour.

If toadstools spring up in the night in dry weather, they indicate rain.

When the small birds prune the wing,

Ducking in the limpid spring,

Languid 'neath the sheltering trees

Oxen snuff the southern breeze,

Cackling geese with outstretched throat

Join the crow's discordant note,

Busy moles throw up the earth,

Crickets chirrup on the hearth,

Loudly caws the harsh-toned rook,

Spotted frogs respondent croak,

Gnats wheel round in airy ring,

Angry wasps and hornets sting,

Cautious bees forbear to roam,

Honey seeking near their home,

Spiders from their cobwebs fall,

Forth the shiny earth-worms crawl,

Loud, sonorous asses bray,

Frequent crows the bird of day,

Hens and chicks run helter-skelter -

These, though cloudless be the sky,

Tokens are that rain is nigh.

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