MOLE-CRICKET. 



MOON INFLUENCE OF. 



States under the names of moles, or mice, the ] observations upon this subject are taken from 

 reader is referred to the 1st volume of the Na- a lecture delivered before the Franklin Insti- 

 tute of Pennsylvania, by G. Emerson, M. D., 

 of Philadelphia. 



There is, perhaps, no opinion relative to 

 the phenomena of the natural world, more uni- 

 versally maintained, than that the moon exerts 

 a decided influence over the states of the wea- 

 ther. This long-cherished notion has doubt- 

 less derived increased strength, since it was 

 shown that the ocean tides depend upon a phy- 

 sical connection subsisting between our planet 

 and her satellite. 



I, however, think it capable of conclusive 

 demonstration, that the moon exerts no influ- 

 ence in the production of wet or dry weather. 



I assume it as incontrovertibly proven, by 

 the experiments of Mr. Dalton, that the watery 

 vapour from which rain and all the precipita- 

 tions are formed, owes its elevation and sus- 

 pension, in an invisible form, entirely to heat, 

 deprived of a due proportion of which, by any 

 refrigerating cause, it is condensed, and falls 

 from the atmosphere in one 'or other of the 

 forms of aqueous precipitation. The conditions 

 af wet or dry weather are, consequently, to be re- 

 gtrrdcil (is regulated solely by temperature. 



Now, the nicest experiments have failed to 

 show that the presence and light of the moon 

 are attended by the slightest change of tem- 

 perature. The lunar rays have been concen- 

 trated by powerful lenses and the largest re- 

 flectors, and thrown upon that most delicate 

 test of heat, the differential thermometer, with- 

 out any indication of their effect in raising the 

 temperature. Unless, therefore, it can be 

 proved that the moon exerts some perceptible 

 influence upon the temperature of our atmo- 

 sphere, we shall be warranted in believing that 

 she has no power in* determining the condi- 

 tions of the weather, whether this shall be wet 

 or dry. 



I am fully aware of the multitudes of ob- 

 servations which have from time to time been 

 made upon this question, and that most of those 

 reported appear to favour a belief contrary to 

 the position here taken. 



It cannot be denied that the power of the 

 moon, so conspicuously manifested in the pro- 

 duction of the ocean tides, may also be felt by 

 the atmosphere. The aerial ocean must, weight 

 for weight, be as subservient to the law of at- 

 traction subsisting between the earth and her 

 satellite, as any other terrestrial matter ; and 

 I have no doubt of the correctness of the re- 

 sults of observations made in Italy and France, 

 by Polina, Flaugergues, and others, which go 

 to prove that the mean height of the barometer 

 is affected by the different positions of the 

 moon in relation to the earth, the greatest mean 

 elevations corresponding with the quarters. 

 But, in thus admitting the existence of lunar 

 influence upon the terrestrial atmosphere, we 

 should not deceive ourselves in regard to the 

 nature of this influence. We must not admit 

 that every cause which operates in producing 

 the rise or depression of the mercurial column, 

 is capable of influencing the hygrometric con- 

 ditions of the air, if, in other words, exercising 

 an influence in the production of wet or dry 

 weather. The attraction subsisting between 



turul History of the State of Neiv 



MOLE- CRICKET (Gryllotalpa vulgaris. 

 jl\n:<' xnjllntalfxi). This destructive insect is 

 known indifferent localities in England, under 

 the several names of churr-worm, jarr-worm, 

 eve-churr, and earth-crab. The mole-cricket 

 measures 2 inches in length, and 4 lines ?n 

 breadth. Its colour is dark-brown. The most 

 reinai kable feature in the insect is the size and 

 strength of its fore-arms. The power which 

 is requisite to move them is great. The cavity 

 of the main trunk is divided lengthways by a 

 double gristly partition, surmounted by a bony 

 frame, with an inferior condyle, with which the 

 inner part of the base of the clavicle of the 

 arm is hinged; and by this mechanism the arms 

 are moved. The mole-cricket burrows under 

 ground, and devours the roots of plants. The 

 female hollows out a place for herself in the 

 earth, about half a foot from the surface, in 

 the month of June, and lays her eggs in a 

 heap, which often contains from 200 to 300. 

 They are shining yellowish-brown, and of the 

 size and shape of a grain of millet. The 

 young, which are hatched in July or August, 

 greatly resemble black ants, and feed, like the 

 uld ones, on the tender roots of grass, corn, and 

 various culinary vegetables. They betray 

 their presence under the earth by the withered 

 yellow patches in the meadows, and by the 

 withering decay of culinary vegetables in the 

 gardens. In October or November they bury 

 themselves deeper in the earth, as a* protection 

 from cold, and come again to the surface in- the 

 warm days in March. Their presence is dis- 

 covered by their throwing up the earth like 

 moles. The best method of destroying them is 

 to dig up the young brood; but boiling water 

 or oil of any kind poured over their holes will 

 be found effectual. (Kollar on Insects, p. 144.) 

 For a description of the American mole-cricket 

 see CRICKET. 



MOLE-PLOUGH. See DRAINING and 

 PLOUGHS. 



MOLE-TREE (Euphorbia lathyrus). Com- 

 monly called Caper Spurge, and by the French 

 Epurge : a plant with a biennial root ; stem 2 

 to 3 feet high; found in the United States in 

 gardens and lots. It is a naturalized foreigner, 

 and was originally introduced under a notion 

 that it afforded a protection against the incur- 

 sions of moles. The same common impres- 

 sion once existed in regard to the Palma 

 Christi ; but little faith seems now to be at- 

 tached to either plant as protectives against 

 moles. 



MONADELPHOU8. In botany, having the 

 filaments cohering into a tube, or one bundle. 



AIONANDROUS. A botanical term applied 

 to plants having only one stamen, or male 

 organ. 



MONILIFORM. In botany, formed like a 

 necklace ; that is to say, articulated with alter- 

 nate swellings and contractions resembling a 

 Btring of beads. 



MONK'S HOOD. See WOLF'S-BANE. 



MONOCOTYLEDONOUS. In botany, hav- 

 ng only one seed-leaf or cotyledon. 



MOON, INFLUENCE OF. The following 

 830 



