School: Westland (roll number 8428)

On this page

1. Weather-Signs

   

   Share Share Post

   It was an old remark that when you would see a mackerel sky it usually was not twenty four hours dry.

   About thirty years ago quails used to fly about here. Just as plainly as the cuckoo says "Cuckoo" the quail used to say "Wet my lip." When farmers heard that they got busy to secure their hay or corn, for they knew rain was coming.
   The next day was sure to be wet.

   Another indication of rain is, the dog changes from a mutton bone to grass for a feast. When a cat sits at the fire washing her face with her velvet paws rain is near.
   The ducks get excited and quack loudly and go round saluting each other, when rain is coming.
   Any person suffering from rheumatic pains suffers more in wet weather than when days are good and bright.

   It will be fine when swallows fly high, and when bats fly late at night, when beetles take to the wing, and when morning-chimney smoke rises straight up you may be sure of a good day.

   Rain is indicated when birds fly low, when peacocks begin to screech, when crows fly up and circle around their nest. When sparrows become excited and chirp continuously, when morning smoke will not rise, when cattle caper about, and when donkeys bray.

   A change of weather is due when dogs sniff the air, and if you see birds perching on the lowest branches of trees a storm is not far away. The presence of cormorants at the mouth of a

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. weather-lore (~6,442)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Doris Ormiston

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Mullagh, Co. Cavan

   Informant

   Mr W. Ormiston

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Mullagh, Co. Cavan