Seasonal Notes, — August 159 



following month, when it is known as the " Hunter's Moon." 

 The best Harvest moons occur on or near the 21st of 

 September. 



There is no reason to believe that there is any connection 

 between changes of the moon and the earth's weather. 



The surface of the moon has been carefully studied and 

 mapped. Some of its craters and mountains can easily be 

 seen with a good opera glass or small hand telescope. 



It is certain that there is in the moon no life such as we 

 know life on the earth, for there is neither air nor water. 



Professor Sir Robert Ball, to whose excellent chapters on 

 the Moon we have been several times indebted in compiling 

 the above Memoranda, has the following paragraph in con- 

 nection with the absence of atmosphere on the moon : — 



" It seems probable that a building in the moon would remain for 

 century after century just as it was left by the builders. There need 

 be no glass in the windows, for there is no wind and no rain to keep 

 out. There need be no fire-places in the rooms, for fuel cannot burn 

 without air. Dwellers in a city in the moon would find that no dust 

 can rise, no odours be perceived, no sounds be heard." 



SEASONAL NOTES.— AUGUST. 



So far as England and Northern Europe are concerned, the 

 last shout of the Cuckoo in 1906 has been heard. His pen- 

 ultimate stutterings are over, and we shall hear him no more 

 till April, 1907. Most of the old birds may not improbably 

 have already crossed the Channel. They do not linger in 

 order to guard or guide their young, but as soon as the 

 pleasures of the egg-laying season are well past their instinct 

 prompts them to return to their southern haunts. Practically 

 they come to us for a yearly recurring long honeymoon. 

 Possibly it is some failure in supply of insects as food which 

 determines their departure. Clearly, however, it is no matter 

 of absolute necessity, for the young birds will remain till 



