CHAPTEE LXIII. 



March Dust — Moons of Mars — Planetoids — Occultation of Alpha Leonis — Zodiacal Light — 

 Snow Bunting — Old Gaelic Ballad of *' Deirdri : " Its Topography. 



If for the first few days March [1878] seemed inclined to emulate 

 the peaceful calm and sunshine of its predecessor, it very suddenly 

 assumed a more warlike aspect ; a change came over the spirit of 

 its dream ; it became boisterous and rude ; snow, and sleet, and 

 rain, and storm battling in wild comminglement. It still continued 

 what is called " open " weather, however ; there was no frost, no 

 razor-edged and biting winds, and vegetation was rather temporarily 

 checked than seriously hurt or hindered. After this wild burst, in 

 vindication, it is to be presumed, of the month's right to be called 

 after the bellicose Mars, things slowly but steadily improved, and 

 the weather is now such as permits us to get on with our spring 

 work uninterruptedly and pleasantly enough. We have not yet, 

 however, had a sufficiency of the " March dust," so proverbially 

 invaluable at seed-time ; and nowhere perhaps so invaluable, so 

 absolutely essential indeed, in its proper season, as in the "West 

 Highlands. The day, however, is now lengthening apace, and with 

 a bright warm sun overhead, and brisk north-easterly breezes, we 

 shall doubtless soon have dust enough and to spare. 



Our reference to Mars the war-god, reminds us that Mars the 

 planet, with whose fiery effulgence every one is familiar, has 

 recently had an accession of dignity such as the old-world star- 

 gazers never dreamt of in connection with the ruddy orb. It is 

 found to have at least two attendant moons, small, and so exceed- 

 ingly difficult of detection even by the aid of the best instruments, 



