Malcolm wrote:

It is *very* commonly said, not least in the meedja every autumn, but is
completely without foundation, indeed biologically impossible!

In the northeastern U.S., the big winter prognosticator is the "woolly
worm" AKA "woolly bear," a black and yellow striped caterpillar whose
stripe widths predict the harshness of the upcoming winter, Unfortunately,
no two are alike, and nobody can agree on which stripe, wide or narrow,
means what. But come this fall, the subject will beaten to death again.
I'm a "play it as it lays" kind of guy myself...


Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at www.albany.net/~gwoods
Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1200' elevation. NY WO G