Little Question Two of Question Seven
Why brute animals show future effects by certain motions
It is doubted why brute animals show future effects by certain motions.
To this it is answered as follows: brute animals have nothing above the phantasy which orders phantasms, as human beings have reason. And therefore the phantasy of brute animals wholly follows the celestial impression. Consequently, certain future things, such as rain and things of that kind, can be shown more readily from the motions of animals of this kind than from the motions of human beings, who are moved by the counsel of reason.
Hence the Philosopher says in Book I of On Sleep and Waking that certain extremely imprudent persons are the most provident. For their intellective power is not affected by cares, but is as though deserted and empty of all things; and, moved according to the mover, it is led along.
These things are from Thomas in the First Part, in the question cited above.
Hence the Philosopher says in the book of the Meteorology that the song of frogs and the sharp bite of fleas or flies signify rain.
The first part is proved because damp weather is suitable to frogs existing in waters, and therefore they sing by natural inclination. Fleas and flies, on account of the moisture drawn up by the elevating power from which rain is generated, seek restorative nourishment more than usual.
And a rooster singing at an unaccustomed time, and asses rubbing their ears, signify future rain. The first part is proved because at that time, by the multitude of vapors extinguishing their former dryness, they are stimulated. The second part is proved because itching is generated in them from the multitude of vapors.
Likewise, the raising of the heads of oxen and cows in fields and pastures, or their impulse to return to the farm, signifies future rain and storm. This is evident because, since their operations are from an infallible intelligence, they are therefore naturally inclined to cognize future harm.
The excessive eagerness of livestock eating in the fields is also a sign of future rain. This is evident because nature, which does not fail in necessary things, gave to these animals, which do not possess reason, a certain natural inclination by which they estimate that future harm is about to occur in the near term which will impede their nourishment. Therefore, as though knowing this, they seek food more eagerly than usual.
Concerning birds which also prognosticate future rain upon the earth, Virgil sang thus in a long poem in Book I of the Georgics:
When swift diving birds fly back from the midst of the sea, And bear their cry toward the shores; and when sea coots Play upon dry land, and the heron abandons the familiar marshes And flies above a lofty cloud.
And below:
Or the cranes of the air have fled that storm Rising from the lowest valleys. Or a heifer, looking up at the sky, has caught the breezes with open nostrils. Or the twittering swallow has flown about the lake, And in the mud the frogs have sung their ancient complaint. More often the ant has carried her eggs out from her inner chambers, Wearing a narrow path upon the earth; and the vast rainbow drinks; And, withdrawing from the pasture in a great column, The army of crows has clamored with densely beating wings.
And below:
Now the varied birds of the sea; Now to run into the waves.
And you may see them exult in vain eagerness for washing. Then, namely, these are signs of future rain. The signs of a coming storm he sang of above in the same book:
Immediately, when the winds are rising, either the waters of the sea Begin, stirred up, to swell, and on the rugged high Mountains a crash is heard; or the resounding shores far away Are thrown into confusion, and the murmur of the woods grows loud. Then the wave scarcely tempers itself for the curved keels.
And let these things suffice concerning the eighth chapter of the First Decade.