Cats, cows and crickets...

The study of animal behaviour has been used as a means of weather forecasting since time immemorial. Cats often exhibit wild, erratic behaviour before a storm; cows are said to sit down prior to rainfall; while a swallow preying on low-flying insects is another precursor to unsettled weather. Perhaps most well established of all these animal lores is the North American celebration of Groundhog Day (made famous in the film with Bill Murray). If on that date – 2 February – the eponymous marmot sees its own shadow and returns to its burrow, tradition has it that spring will not arrive for another six weeks. The custom probably derives from an older one that emanates from Germany. There, on Candlemas (also 2 February), the badger is keenly observed. If it is sufficiently sunny for the animal to retreat into its sett, there’s a good deal more winter to come. But all these animals are eclipsed by the humble cricket. In 1881, scientist Margarette W. Brooks revealed that by counting its chirps anyone can ascertain the temperature (in Fahrenheit) to within about one degree. Simply count the number of chirps in 15 seconds and add 37.