weather on a Sunday,—"sic a Friday sic a Sunday," is known as an item of weather-wisdom both in the north of England and in Scotland. When rooks return to their roosting places in groups, they are said to be "coming home," and rain is expected soon to follow. Horses, cows, and sheep always make for the hedges, and stand with their tails to the wind when rain is about to fall. If bats are seen during the day, warm weather is predicted; and invalids are assured of improvement by the adage—
"When the wind is west,
Health is always best."
Certain days and months have their distinctive characteristics expressed in appropriate rhymes, thus—
"If Candlemas day be fair and clear,
There will be two winters in one year."
And further—
"February fill dyke,
With either black or white."
"Whenever April blows its horn,
It fills the barns with hay and corn."
"March wind and May sun,
Make clothes white and maids dun."
"Sunshine and rain
Bring cuckoos from Spain;
But the first cock of hay,
Flays the cuckoo away."
To those who are not acquainted with Lancashire provincialisms, it may be necessary to add that a "cock of hay" means a small heap, and represents that stage in hay-making which immediately precedes the larger heaps locally termed "rickles." "Flays" is obviously
