WEATHER PROGNOSTICS. 



1. Popular errors as to meteorological phenomena 2. Weather almanacks, 

 their absurdities Herschel's Weather Table Murphy's Almanack. 

 3. Influence of the moon on the weather Toaldo's theory Pilgrim's 

 observations Horsley's observations and papers Schubler's observa- 

 tions and calculations Arago's examination of them Observations 

 of FlaugergiTes 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. 



1. THE physical laws -which govern the phenomena of our 

 atmosphere, and regulate the changes of the weather, have 

 always been a favourite topic of speculation. As the principles 

 of astronomical science supplied means of predicting, with the 

 highest possible degree of certainty and precision, the motions 

 and appearances of the heavenly bodies, it was not unnaturally 

 expected that atmospherical phenomena might be brought under 

 equally clear and certain rules. The connection of the lunar 

 motions with the tides was apparent, long before the influence by 

 which the moon produced the rise and fall of the waters of the 

 ocean was explained ; and this gave countenance, at a very early 

 period, to the idea that that body had an influence on the 

 atmosphere, if not as certain and regular as on the waters, still 



MUSEUM, No. 2. F 65 



