Weather Lore. Signs of rain. When there is a ring round the moon. When the new moon is on its back. The Curlew cries. The ducks quack. The crows flying high and cawing loudly. The noise of the train heard a mile or more away The hills appear to be quite near although distant When the mist comes down the Downs Hill. The cat sits with her back to the fire The hens pick their feathers The chimney smokes and soot falls down. When there is a blue flame in the fireJames Scott