Weather proverbs

by H. H. C. Dunwoody

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

		Page.
Introduction or note to accompany publication by Chief Signal Officer		[5]
Letter of Lieut. H. H. C. Dunwoody transmitting report		[5]
Copy of circular calling for reports of popular weather sayings		[7]
PART I.
Popular Weather Prognostics. By the Hon. Ralph Abercromby, F. M. S., and William Marriott, F. M. S.		[9]
Proverbs relating to animals, with note by Dr. C. C. Abbott		[29]
Proverbs relating to Birds.		[34]
	Clouds	[41]
	Dew	[48]
	Fish	[49]
	Fog	[51]
	Frost	[53]
	Insects	[55]
	Moon	[59]
	Plants	[64]
	Rain	[68]
	Rainbows	[70]
	Reptiles	[72]
	Stars	[73]
	Snow	[74]
	Sun	[76]
	Thunder and lightning	[79]
	Trees	[82]
	Wind	[83]
	Years, seasons, months, weeks, and days	[88]–93
General prognostics		[105]
PART II.
1.	Instrumental and other local indications of approaching storms, compiled from reports made to the Chief Signal Officer by observers of the Signal Service, United States Army	[129]
2.	Table 1 shows the quadrants from which winds are most likely to be followed by rain or snow in the several districts of the United States	[141]
	Table 2, shows the quadrants from which winds are least likely to be followed by rain or snow, computed from the observations of the Signal Service	[143]
3.	District map, showing the boundaries of meteorological districts used by the Signal Service in preparation of weather indications	[145]
List of names and addresses of persons furnishing reports for this publication		[145]

Office Chief Signal Officer,

Washington, D. C., May 11, 1883.

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the “Popular weather proverbs, prognostics, &c.,” in use in the United States:

The circular recently issued by you calling upon all observers, both regular and voluntary, and the general public to coöperate with the Signal Service in the collection of this information was widely distributed, and the replies received contain special prognostics in use in each section of this country. Many of these sayings express, in a crude form, the meteorological conditions likely to follow, and have resulted, from the close observation on the part of those whose interests compelled them to be on the alert, in the study of all signs which might enable them to determine approaching weather changes.

The increase of aqueous vapor in the atmosphere is indicated by its effect upon animal and vegetable organization. Animals are observed to become restless before rain, and many prognostics are based upon the action of birds, beasts, fish, reptiles, and insects. Plants and trees also indicate change in the hygrometric condition of the surrounding atmosphere by the expansion and contraction of their leaves or flowers. The increase of aqueous vapor is indicated by the expansion or contraction of various substances, such as wood, whalebone, cat-gut, sponge, and hair, which, when colder than the air, condenses the moisture upon them, and this being absorbed increases the temperature, thus causing expansion or contraction. This action of heat and vapor upon these various substances has been utilized by meteorologists in the construction of hygrometers, and a number of the prognostics herewith express the effect of moisture on the articles named.

I have indicated only a limited number of those prognostics which depend upon the quantity of vapor in the atmosphere with a view of illustrating that a portion of these popular weather sayings are based upon true meteorological conditions, and a thorough knowledge of this class of prognostics may prove of service to the observer when instruments are not at hand.

Those popular sayings referring to years, months, weeks, &c., are not considered of any real value in determining the weather forecasts for the periods named. They are given that general attention may be directed to this class of weather forecasts. The ablest meteorologists of to-day, aided by the most perfect meteorological instruments and the results of years of accurate instrumental observations, are still unable to give reliable forecasts of the weather for a longer period than two or three days, and frequently not longer than twenty-four hours. It is possible that a more accurate observation of the condition of plants or the condition and action of animals might lead to some valuable suggestion in this important field of investigation. At least we may be permitted to invite a wider field of observation in this branch of the science so long as those most learned in meteorology are unable to inform the agriculturist whether the approaching season will be wet or dry, warm or cold.

I have included in this report the interesting paper on Popular Weather Prognostics by the Hon. Ralph Abercromby, F. M. S., and William Marriott, F. M. S., which was read before the Meteorological Society of London December 20, 1882. This paper is of special value when considered in connection with the popular weather sayings given in this report, as the relation existing between many of these prognostics and the attending meteorological conditions as determined from instrumental observations is clearly shown.

Under head of General Prognostics will be found a paper of special interest by Mr. Cushing, giving weather prognostics in use among the Zuñi Indians of New Mexico.

Part 2 contains the local indications of weather changes as determined by Signal Service observers at several stations of the Signal Service. Also table showing the wet and dry winds of each district for each month of the year, with a district map showing the geographical boundaries of the districts used in the preparation of weather indications of the Signal Service.

I am very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. H. C. DUNWOODY,

First Lieutenant, Fourth Artillery, A. S. O. and Assistant.

The Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A.,

Washington, D. C.

CIRCULAR CALLING FOR REPORTS OF POPULAR WEATHER SAYINGS.

War Department,

Office of the Chief Signal Officer,

Washington City, —— —, 188–.

Dear Sir: It is the purpose of this office to make a collection of the popular weather proverbs and prognostics used throughout the country and by all classes and races of people, including Indians, negroes, and all foreigners. In order to facilitate this work the accompanying questions have been prepared and distributed. If you will kindly lend your assistance in this work I shall be greatly obliged, and if the reports are numerous enough to warrant their printing you shall be furnished with a copy of the paper.

Please write the answers to the questions on the lines provided for that purpose, and number the answers to correspond with the numbers of the questions answered. Please add such other information bearing on the subject as you may have. When possible please give the origin and history of the saying or proverb.

Yours, very respectfully,

W. B. HAZEN,

Brig. & Bvt. Maj. Gen’l, Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A.

1. Proverbs relating to the sun.

2. Proverbs relating to the moon. (New moon, change of moon, halo around the moon, influence of moon on agricultural operations, change of moon on days of week, &c.)

3. Proverbs relating to stars and meteors.

4. Proverbs relating to rainbows.

5. Proverbs relating to mist and fog.

6. Proverbs relating to dew.

7. Proverbs relating to clouds.

8. Proverbs relating to frost.

9. Proverbs relating to snow.

10. Proverbs relating to rain. (Morning, midnight, rain from particular quarter, rain during squalls.)

11. Proverbs relating to thunder and lightning. (First thunder in the year, thunder from the west, north, east, south; lightning west, north, northwest, south, southwest, and east.)

12. Proverbs relating to winds. (Day, night, morning, evening; wind and rain, wind preceding fair weather, cold winds, direction of winds, north wind, northeast wind, northwest wind, south wind, east wind, west winds, wet wind, veering winds, backing winds.)

13. Prognostics from the actions of animals. (Bats, oxen, cats, dogs, goats, hares, rabbits, horses, mice, moles, pigs, rats, sheep, weasels, wolves, frogs.)

14. Prognostics from birds. (Blackbirds, cranes, cuckoos, ducks, finches, fowls, chickens, geese, guinea fowl, gulls, kingfishers, kites, larks, migratory birds, owls, peacocks, pigeons, quails, robins, rooks, snipe, sparrows, swallows, swans, thrushes, wild geese, woodpeckers, wrens.)

15. Prognostics from fish. (Carp, dolphin, pike, porpoise, trout, shad, herring, mackerel, cod, blue-fish, lobsters, crabs.)

16. Prognostics from reptiles. (Frogs, glow-worms, leeches, snails, snakes, toads, worms.)

17. Prognostics from insects. (Ants, bees, beetles, crickets, flies, gnats, lady-birds, spiders, wasps.)

18. Prognostics from trees, plants, &c. (Brambles, brooms, chickweed, clover, colts-foot, dandelions, ferns, fir-cones, hawthorne, marigolds, mushrooms, oak, onions, pear, apple, roses, sea-weed, sensitive-plants, thistles, walnuts, wood-sorrel, chaff, leaves, &c.)

19. Prognostics of the weather drawn from various objects. (Chairs, tables cracked before rain, &c., coals burning brightly, corns, ditches, doors, dust, lamps, rheumatism, salt, seed, sign-boards, smoke, soup, sound, strings, toothache, walls.)

20. Proverbs relating to days of the week. (Weather and agricultural rules.)

21. Proverbs relating to each month of the year. (January, February, March, &c.)

22. Proverbs relating to the seasons of the year. (Spring, autumn, &c.)

23. Proverbs of weather relating to the year.

24. Proverbs of weather and popular sayings relating thereto, not included in the answers to the above questions.