BY E. C. NOWELL. 



53 



The difference between the two pairs, the first and last 

 quarters on the one hand, and the new and full moon on the 

 other, are so marked, as at once to suggest the idea that it is 

 not altogether due to chance. If this be so, then there is a 

 greater probability of rain occurring at the first and last 

 quarters than at the new and full moon. 



In my enquiries I have not given any attention to the 

 question how far, if at all, the rain-fall is affected by the 

 moon's apogee or perigee. But it is only reasonable to 

 suppose that, if the greater or less proximity of the moon to 

 the earth affects the tides, it must also cause some correspond- 

 ing modification in those conditions of the atmosphere which 

 regulate the suspension and condensation of moisture in the 

 upper regions. 



Lardner, in the work above cited, tells us that Toaldo, from 

 a comparison of 45 years' observations at Padua, found that 

 in every six passages of the moon through perigee there 

 were five changes of weather, and in every five through 

 apogee there were four changes of weather (p. 72) ; and 

 that Professor Pilgrim, from a 25 years' series of observa- 

 tions at Vienna, arrived at the result that the influence of 

 perigee is greater than that of any of the phases, while the 

 influence of apogee is equal to that of the quarters and 

 full moon, and greater than that of the new moon (p. 

 73). But Lardner considers that the mode in which 

 these conclusions were reached was such as to throw 

 some doubt upon the results. He seems to attach more 

 weight to the investigations of M. Schiibler, who, from 

 observations taken at Munich, Stuttgard, and Augsburg, for 

 28 years, found that during the seven days nearest to perigee 

 it rained 1,169 times, and during the seven days nearest 

 to apogee, only 1,096 times. " Thus," remarks Lardner, 

 cceteris paribus, the nearer is the moon to the earth the 

 greater would be the chances for rain" (p. 75). 



Further on he says : " Prom all that has been stated it can 

 scarcely be denied that there exists some correspondence 

 between the prevalence of rain and the phases of the moon. 

 What that exact correspondence is, remains for more extended 

 a nd accurate observations to inform us ; but meanwhile it 

 ttiay be safely affirmed that it is not such as to constitute a 

 prognostic in any sense approaching to that in which it has 

 been popularly adopted." (lb.) 



With this I entirely agree ; and, so far as the foregoing 

 enquiries enable us to pronounce an opinion on the subject, 

 tne only thing which we can with any safety assert with 

 regard to this subject, is, that there is a greater probability 

 °f having rain on the first than on any succeeding day of any 

 °f the moon's changes. 



