Folk-Lore
the coming day to be fair. The flight of the rain goose (the red-throated diver) was particularly noticed. When this bird was seen flying in an inland direction the weather was likely to be favourable, but when its flight was directed towards the sea the opposite was expected. Hence—
“If the rain göse flees ta da hill,
Ye can geng ta da haf whin ye will;
Bit whin shö gengs ta da sea,
Ye maun draw up yir boats an fee.”
Cocks crowing or the hens stirring abroad while rain is falling is a sign that it will soon be fair. Flocks of snaa fowl (snow bunting) seen before Winter Sunday (the last Sunday of October) foretell the approach of a severe winter.
A cat sitting with her back to the fire indicated cold weather, and washing her face with both the fore paws was a sure prognostic of coming rain; but when puss was observed sleeping on her harns (head turned down), fair weather might
be expected.
