The animal world is full of harbingers of doom—at least, according to superstitions. From the Tower of London’s ravens (whose departure would signal the fall of an entire nation) to the average black cat crossing your unlucky path, plenty of critters warn of woe. In Ominous Animals, we explore the lore—and the science—behind these finned, furry, and feathered messengers of impending calamity. When a loved one fell ill in 17th-century England, a rhythmic tap, tap, tap echoing from the walls could set families on edge. Some likened the sound to…
