Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 301, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1914 — ANIMAL BAROMETERS. [ARTICLE]

ANIMAL BAROMETERS.

The tortoise- Is not lan animal one would naturally ftxjuqon as likely to be afraid of rain, but (ft ,1s singularly so. Twenty-four h©urssor\ more before rain falls the GaJhpagodtortolae makes for some conventent shelter. On a bright, clear monfing, when not a, 1 cloud is to be.see«k thesdendsens of a tortoise farm; on fthe African coast, may be seeni sometimes beading for the nearest orerhaligllrtg’rocks. When that happens the proprietor knows that rain wiDi come downtduring the day, and as> a.Tule 2t> copieß\down In torrents. The nfgn never tails? This presentation, to' coin a word, which exists in mauy*biitis and beasts, may be explained ?partiy\ from the increasing weight of' the* atmosphere when rain is forming,ipaittr by habits of living and partly’ fromi the need of moisture which is-shared iby aIL The catbird, gives wandngtof an approaching thunder steam by kitting on the low branches of ja tree, ptterlng curious notea. Otherrords,. including the familiar'roMiu it isi said, (give similar evidence of an impeodlngNcbange tn the weather.