62 POPULAR ERRORS. 



Change in temperature is the main cause of 

 rainfall, aside from the amount of moisture present 

 in the air, and this moisture is determined by the 

 temperature of the air and the proximity of large 

 bodies of water or other sources of supply. Know- 

 ing the slight effect of even the full moon on tem- 

 perature, we are prepared for the idea that no mere 

 changes in its phases can possibly have any appre- 

 ciable effect on the fall of rain. Experiments 

 made in England by Dr. Laycock as to the amount 

 of rainfall at different phases of the moon showed 

 little if any difference. Observations by Dr. Pen- 

 dleton of Georgia, and others, have given like re- 

 sults. We will next notice the effect of the moon's 

 light. 



Most people are apt to overestimate the amount 

 of light received from the moon, which, we know, 

 is all derived, by reflection, from the sun. This 

 arises from the power the eye has of adapting itself 

 to different degrees of light. Still, even with this 

 power of adaptation, probably most persons are sur- 

 prised when they find how difficult it is to read a 

 newspaper by moonlight. Dr. Wollaston has meas- 

 ured the light received from the moon and that 

 given by the sun, and finds that if the latter be 

 compared to the light of five and a half wax can- 

 dles at the distance of one foot, the light of the 

 moon would be represented by one one hundred 



