AH, the Great British Weather. Discussing it is a national obsession, but then we have so much of it in these exposed, sea surrounded isles. The divination of the weather, before the science of meteorology, was often based on ancient folklore and proverbs concerning the behaviour of the animals in the field or in the wild. Now that we have the Met Office-other weather forecasters are available-all the silly old saws can be dumped in the bin of superstition. Or can they? Animal-science research has come back to bite the sceptics. Some animals do seem to be weather forecasters. If they can predict the weather, should you stop watching the weather person on television and start watching the birds in the sky instead?
'If a cow lies down, rain is coming'
There is an entire herd of proverbs concerning bovines as barometers, with the most common being 'if a cow lies down, rain is coming'. An udderly ridiculous saying? Scientific rumination on this farmers' favourite aphorism by the universities of Arizona and Northwest Missouri in the US suggests it may have a leg to stand on. The reason? A tenuous link between crouching cattle and wet weather: cattle tend to remain upright longer when their bodies overheat, so a standing Shorthorn could arguably mean a scorcher a-coming, whereas a seated Simmental suggests a cool front on the way -as cool weather frequently precedes rain. If cows lie down when the air is cooling, they secure a dry patch of grass that keeps their stomach warm and this aids their milk production. Not so stupid, cows.
There is, therefore, a correlation between rain and the behaviour of cows and (some) truth to the tale. Alas, cows lie down for all sorts of reasons, so a field of reclining Red Poll or lying-down Limousin is not necessarily a signal to don a mac.
'Frogs croak more loudly when it's about to rain'
Denne historien er fra May 15, 2024-utgaven av Country Life UK.
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Denne historien er fra May 15, 2024-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
