WEATHER PROGNOSTICS. 



correspondence with observed facts. That the moon, by her 

 gravitation, exerts an attraction on our atmosphere cannot be 

 doubted ; but the effects which that attraction would produce 

 upon the weather are not in accordance with observed phe- 

 nomena ; and, therefore, these effects are either too small in 

 amount to be appreciable in the actual state of meteorological 

 instruments, or they are obliterated by other more powerful 

 causes, from which hitherto they have not been eliminated. It 

 appears, however, by some series of observations, not yet con- 

 firmed or continued through a sufficient period of time, that a 

 slight correspondence may be discovered between the periods of 

 rain and the phases of the moon, indicating a very feeble 

 influence, depending on the relative position of that luminary to 

 the sun, but having no discoverable relation to the lunar attrac- 

 tion. This is not without interest as a subject of scientific 

 inquiry, and is entitled to the attention of meteorologists ; 

 but its influence is so feeble that it is altogether destitute of 

 popular interest as a weather prognostic. It may, therefore, be 

 stated that as far as observation combined with theory has 

 afforded any means of knowledge, there are no grounds for the 

 prognostications of weather erroneously supposed to be derived 

 from the influence of the sun and moon. 



Those who are impressed with the feeling that an opinion so 

 universally entertained even in countries remote from each other, 

 as that which presumes an influence of the moon over the 

 weather, must have some foundation, will do well to remember 

 that against that opinion we have not here opposed mere theory. 

 Nay, we have abandoned for the occasion the support that science 

 might afford, and the light it might shed on the negative of this 

 question, and have dealt with it as a mere question of fact. It 

 matters little, so far as this question is concerned, in what manner 

 the moon and sun may produce an effect on the weather, nor 

 even whether they be active causes in producing such effects 

 at all. The point, and the only point of importance is, whether 

 regarded as a mere matter of fact, any such correspondence 

 between the changes of the moon and those of the weather 

 exists as is popularly supposed ? And a short examination of 

 the recorded facts proves that IT DOES NOT. 



SO 



