50 DO THB CHANGES OF THE MOON AFFECT THE RAINFALL? 



influence on the weather, observes : " 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 exist, as is popularly supposed? 

 And a short examination of the recorded facts proves that It 

 does not." And Dr. Ball, Eoyal Astronomer of Ireland, in 

 his " Story of the Heavens," published in 1886, p. 59, says : 

 " There is one widely credited myth about the moon which 

 must be regarded as devoid of real foundation. The idea 

 that the moon and the weather are connected has no doubt 

 been entertained by high authority, but careful comparison 

 has shown that there is no definite connection between the 

 two." I venture to think that the results which I shall 

 bring before the members of this Society will show that these 

 opinions are premature, and will have to be modified, and 

 that, after all, the popular persuasion is not without some 

 foundation in fact. 



Seeing that the statements of scientific men and the 

 popular notions on the subject of the moon's influence on the 

 weather seemed to be at variance, I resolved to investigate the 

 matter for myself ; and accordingly in 1880 I began to keep a, 

 meteorological journal in a rough way, and have continued it 

 up to the present time. There is only one hiatus of about a 

 fortnight, caused by my absence from home. Having now 

 ten years' observations to work upon, I thought I might safely 

 proceed to ascertain what conclusions might be drawn from 

 them, and with that view prepared table B appended to this 

 paper. 



It should be mentioned that every fall of rain, however 

 slight, unless unintentionally omitted, is recorded ; and that 

 rain is noticed in the tables only on the first day on which it 

 occurs in connection with any particular change. When, 

 therefore two or more rain-days come together, only the first 

 is tabulated, the others being omitted : but when a break of 

 a whole day occurs, any subsequent fall of rain is treated as 

 distinct, and tabulated accordingly. 



