The Swan.
The eggs of the swan are hatched by thunder and lightning. This bird sings its own death song.
The Swift.
This bird’s motions are looked upon as weather signs. Its feeding regions are high up in the air when the weather is settled for fair, and low down when rain is approaching.
Its screaming is supposed to indicate a change of weather from fair to rain.
Tit Major>, or Sawyer.
The Rev. E. V. Owen, Vicar of Llwydiarth, Montgomeryshire, told me that the Tit’s notes are a sign of rain, at least, that it is so considered in his parish. The people call the bird “Sawyer,” and they say its notes resemble in sound the filing of a saw. A man once said to my friend:—“I dunna like to hear that old sawyer whetting his saw.” “Why not,” said Mr. Owen. “‘Cause it’ll rain afore morning,” was the answer. This bird, if heard in February, when the snow or frost is on the ground, indicates a breaking up of the weather. Its sharp notes rapidly repeated several times in succession are welcome sounds in hard weather, for they show that spring is coming.
The Wren.
The Wren’s life is sacred, excepting at one time of the year, for should anyone take this wee birdie’s life away, upon
him some mishap will fall. The wren is classed with the Robin:—