Sometimes the house fly is a pretty good barometer. Generally before a storm they seem to light on everything, particularly persons, and we call them “sticky.” Generally at these times they congregate in swarms. Most everyone is familiar with the gnat. They are one of the few insects that gives us indications and good signs, and when you see them forming in groups and moving along in front of you, you may expect fair weather. There are many other interesting facts and fairy tales about indications by animals and insects, but there is nothing scientific about them. It has been demonstrated that there is nothing conclusive to be drawn from such signs, so we will not attempt to waste pages of this book reiterating these fables. Certain actions of insects and animals give indications and enable the weather prophet to prophesy. The spider is a good example of an insect prophet, and if you will observe him carefully, you will find that when stormy weather is going to come on he shortens his webs, and if he anticipates a long, hard storm, he not only shortens the strings that hold up the web, but he strengthens them as well, and vice-versa, when he anticipates fine weather, he lengthens his strands of the web. When you see the spider cease his activities and he hangs pretty close to his home, which is the center of the web, you will know that rain is approaching. On the other hand, if he continues to spread about during a storm, you can be pretty certain that it is not going to be of very long duration. The frog is a good example of an animal prophet. There is a green frog which has been studied in Germany, which will come out of the water when rainy weather or cold is approaching. Some observers have placed these frogs in a glass jar with a landing provided so that he can come out of the water when he wants to, and he is always observed high and dry above the water several hours in advance of a storm. DEFINITE CONCLUSIONS Forecasting Weather by Means of Instruments The first part of this book may not appeal to you, if you are of a scientific trend of mind, but it is quite essential that you possess a knowledge of the fundamentals treated in the earlier pages in order to thoroughly understand the weather instruments we will now describe. These instruments are the scientific means of forecasting what the weather is going to be. They definitely indicate certain things, and from these indications you are going to be able to draw conclusions and become a scientist or meteorologist. The success that you attain will depend upon the accuracy of the instruments and the care you use in reading them. You will be able to rig up a Weather Bureau of your own, and the use of these instruments will interest anyone in a study of the weather. THE WEATHER VANE