so 



HA RD WICKE'S SCIENCE- G OSSIF. 



head ornaments. It seems probable that these round 

 tires may have resembled those golden ornaments 

 found in Ireland and in ancient Etruria, and called 

 lunula. It is certain that the Hebrews, like most 

 Eastern nations, thought much more of the influence 

 of the moon than we do in our colder clime. The 

 new moon was ushered in by the blowing of the 

 silver trumpets and by special sacrifices. 



But we search in vain in Eastern lands for any 

 notices of superstitions connecting the moon with the 

 weather, for it is only in a variable climate like our 

 own that the weather is watched with solicitude, and 

 it is by no means clear, notwithstanding the dictum 

 of astronomers and philosophers, that in our sea-girt 

 island the moon is wholly devoid of influence upon 

 the weather ; for, when we consider that she regulates 

 the tides, and that, at least on the sea-coast, the 

 extremes of the tides certainly bring about atmos- 

 pheric changes, these changes may truthfully be 

 assigned to the primary cause, that is the moon. 

 The extent of the change would, however, naturally 

 depend greatly upon the direction of the wind and 

 the degree of humidity of the atmosphere at the time, 

 but we believe there is enough influence traceable to 

 the moon to justify to some extent the weather 

 prophecies of our ancestors. 



When, however, we turn to the influence of the 

 moon upon plants and animals, we find the minimum 

 effects in our cold, variable climate, and the maximum 

 in hot countries under clear skies. Yet even here, 

 perhaps, the moon may have more effect upon the 

 growth of plants than we are willing to recognise ; 

 and, as regards animal life, every keeper and atten- 

 dant at a lunatic asylum knows how much the 

 unhappy inmates are excited at full moon, and the 

 bowlings of dogs on moonlight nights show that they 

 too are affected in some way. It is, therefore, 

 possible that there may be some truth in the old 

 %vives' notion, that pigs should be killed when the 

 moon is waxing. As regards the growth of hair, we 

 cannot speak positively, but we have often noticed 

 that the nails grow more rapidly when cut during 

 the waxing period of the moon. These things are 

 not superstitions, but may be proved or disproved by 

 experiment, and it would seem to be worth while to 

 test experimentally those lunar influences which 

 modern philosophy is too ready to reject, simply 

 because they were old-world beliefs. 



In the blessing accorded to the tribe of Joseph, 

 through the mouth of Moses, we find especial mention 

 of " The precious things put forth by the moon " 

 (Deut. xxxiii, 14), and certainly, in hot. countries, it 

 is well known that vegetation is largely dependent 

 upon the moon. We have been told by planters in 

 the West Indies that the growth of the sugar-cane 

 during moonlight nights is twice as great as when 

 there is no moon, as may be proved by the distance 

 between the knots or divisions. The Chinese attach 

 great importance to the influence of the moon, so 



timing the sowing of the seed as to ensure the greatest 

 amount of moonlight for the springing corn. 



The appellation of "moon-struck" is, amongst us, 

 a term of ridicule, but in hot countries it is a reality, 

 and no one would think of sleeping unsheltered under 

 the influence of the light of the full moon. A curious 

 effect of the influence of the moon on animal matter 

 is well known at the Cape of Good Hope. A 

 favourite food among the colonists is a fish called siioek 

 ( Thyrsitcs Atiin). This is not generally eaten fresh, but 

 is cured in a particular way by the Malays. Now if 

 this curing takes place during the time when the moon 

 is at the full, and the light of the moon is allowed to- 

 fall upon it when drying, all who partake of the fish 

 thus cured, are seized with a swelling of the face, not 

 particularly painful, but very disagreeable and dis- 

 figuring, and the unhappy snoek-eaters wander about 

 like so many grown children afflicted with mumps. 



From these few instances it will be seen that the 

 influence of the moon is not altogether mythical, and 

 further research may show that our ancestors were 

 justified in attributing to the silver planet a share in 

 controlling the forces of nature greater than will be 

 admitted by modern philosophers ; and that, even in 

 changes of weather, it is at least possible that the 

 moon may have some influence, although only at 

 new and full moons, when the tides are highest. 

 That the weather should be affected by an eclipse, as 

 many suppose, can scarcely be imagined, since an 

 eclipse is only a passing shadow, and when we come 

 to the absurdities of courtesying and turning money at 

 new moon for luck, we see only the lingering survival 

 of old customs and beliefs which, even in this century 

 of enlightenment, cannot be wholly eradicated ; for 

 in every human heart there still seems to be some 

 little dark corner given up to superstition, and 

 probably even now, as related by Aubrey (1678), 

 some of our English country women may be found to 

 sit astride on a gate or stile the first evening the new 

 moon appears, saying, "A fine moon, God bless 

 her I " 



A PEEP AT THE ROMAN WALL. 

 By the Rev. HiLDERic FRIEND, F.L.S. 



THE quiet little town of Haltwhistle, on the 

 Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, is a capital 

 point from which to start for a peep at this interesting 

 relic of former times. It is curious to notice how 

 peaceful everything now is, where, centuries ago, all 

 was life and bustle. It is fascinating to try and recall 

 the appearance of the skilled masons trimming the 

 blocks of whinstone and placing them in position 

 along the crest of the hills, or in the secluded valleys 

 along which the wall was built, and when we see how 

 sharply the stones were faced, and then visit the 

 quarry in which the very same stone is blasted and 

 squared to-day for paving our cities, we wonder at 



