CONTENTS. v 



PAGE 



Toaldo's theory Pilgrim's observations Hoi-stay's observations 

 and papers Schiibler's observations and calculations Arago's 

 examination of them Observations of Flau^ergues and Bouvard. 

 4. Metonic cycle Arago's examination of it, and observations. 

 5. Arago's examples of the speculation and reasoning of 

 meteorologists. 6. Changes of the moon have no influence on the 

 weather 65 



POPULAR FALLACIES. 



1. Fallacy of the evidence of the senses. 2. Fallacies of vision. 

 3. As applied to the sun and moon. 4. Mechanism of the eye 

 its uses. 5. Perceptions of colour 6. Fallacies of smell, taste, 

 and touch. 7. Fallacies as to number 8. Impressions retained 

 by the eye. 9 Fallacies as to distance 10. Fallacies of touch 

 of apparent temperature. 11. Explained by reference to tem- 

 perature of the human body. 12. Cause of apparent coldness 

 of glass and porcelain. 13. Explanations of the feats of moun- 

 tebanks exposing their bodies to a fierce temperature . . .81 



LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES. 



1. Necessary to know our position on the earth. 2. Poles and 

 equator. 3. Parallel of latitude. 4. Meridian of Greenwich, 

 5. Latitude and longitude. 6. Methods of determining the 

 latitude. 7. By the sun. 8. By stars. 9. Hadley's 

 sextant. 10. Latitude at sea. 11. To find the longitude. 12. 

 Lunar method. 13. Ball signal at Greenwich . i . . .97 



LUNAR INFLUENCES. 



Popular opinions on Lunar Influences. 2. Red moon. 3. Time 

 for felling timber. 4. Supposed Lunar Influences on vegetables. 

 5. On the complexion. 6. On putrefaction. 7. On shell-fish. 

 8. On the marrow of animals. 9. On the weight of the human 

 body. 10. On births. 11. On incubation. 12. On mental 

 derangement and other human maladies Instances of this sup- 

 posed influence during eclipse given by Faber and Ramazzini 

 Amusing anecdote of a village cure near Paris Examples of 

 Yallisnieri and Bacon Observations and examples of Menuret, 

 Hoffmann, Dr. Mead, Pyson, and Dr. Gall. 13. Difiiculty of 

 showing fallacy of these opinions by reasoning or proof Dr. 

 Olbers' partial refutation of them Arago's opinion on them 

 14. General conclusion that few of these influences have any 

 foundation in fact . 113 



