Be sure we shall have rain that day."
Haymakers may derive useful admonitions from the braying of the ass: thus the proverb:—
"Be sure to cock your hay and corn
When the old donkey blows his horn."
Bats flitting about late in the evening in spring and autumn foretel a fine day on the morrow; as do Dorbeetles and some other insects. On the contrary, when Bats return soon to their hiding-places, and send forth loud cries, bad weather may be expected.
Beetles flying about late in the evening often foretel a fine day on the morrow.
Butterflies, when they appear early, are sometimes forerunners of fine weather. Moths and Sphinxes also foretel fine weather when they are common in the evening.
Cats, when they "wash their faces," or when they seem sleepy and dull, foretel rain.
Chickens, when they pick up small stones and pebbles, and are more noisy than usual, afford a sign of rain; as do fowls rubbing in the dust, and clapping their wings; but this applies to several kinds of fowls, as well as to the gallinaceous kinds. Cocks, when they crow at unwonted hours, often foretel rain; when they crow all day, in summer particularly, a change to rain frequently follows.