The weather is by no means a subject which should be regarded merely Registered in accordance with the Act of Parliament, in the year one thousand eight Printed and Electropyped at the WITNESS Establishment, 33 to 37 St. Bona- venture Street, Montreal. INTRODUCTION. The expression of the London Times which is reproduced on the preceding page, but feebly indicates the great interest which is now being taken in the science of meteorology and its great importance and value. The opinion has been slowly but firmly imprinting itself upon scentific men, that while the secrets of the weather appear to be very closely kept, they are not impenetrable, and not only Mr. Vennor, in Canada, but thoughtful and learned men in England, France, Germany and the United States, are devoting their chief attention to discover them. It is evident that there must be causes for the various changes in the weather, which is much less variable than is generally believed, and if these causes can be arrived at the character of a season must be capable of being determined for months ahead, although not with the exactitude shown in pre-recording the movements of the planets. This view was held by Sir John Leslie many years ago, who thus expresses it: "It cannot be disputed that all the changes which happen in the mass of our atmosphere-involved, capricious and irregular as they may appear—are yet the necessary results of principles as fixed, and perhaps as simple, as those which direct the revolution of the Solar system." The same plan for arriving at the secrets of the weather is being followed out in all the countries mentioned. The changes are being closely watched and recorded, and the conditions of the atmosphere, planets, sun, &c., closely noted, so that the proper conclusions may be arrived at. In this Mr. Vennor is doing his share, and already the publication of his winter almanac has caused a wide-spread interest in the matter throughout the Dominion. WCR 20JUN 34 During the year 1879 there will be three eclipses-two of the sun, and one of the moon. The first will be an annular eclipse of the sun, on the 22nd of January; visible in South America, but not in Canada. The second will also be an annular eclipse of the sun, on the 19th of July; not visible in Canada. The third will be a partial eclipse of the moon, on the 28th of December; not visible in Canada. CHRONOLOGICAL CYCLES.-Dominical Letter, E; Golden Number, 18; Jewish Lunar Cycle, 15; Epact or Moon's Age, 7; Solar Cycle, 12; Julian Period, 6592; Jewish Year, commencing 30th September, 5639; Roman Indications, 7; Mohammedan Year, 1396. MORNING AND EVENING STARS. VENUS is an Evening Star until September 23rd, after that a Morning Star to the year's end. MARS is a Morning Star until November 12th, after that an Evening Star to the end of the year. JUPITER is a Morning Star from the 8th of February to the 31st of August, and may be considered an Evening Star until February 8th, and from the 9th of June to the year's end. SATURN is a Morning Star from the 26th March to the 5th of October, and is an Evening Star from the 3rd of July to the end of the year. Autumn 66 THE SEASONS OF THE YEAR 1879. d. h. m. 92 20 9 66 66 93 13 34 89 18 9 .Sept. 23rd 5 9 morning MOVABLE FESTIVALS.-Septuagesima Sunday, February 9th; Sexagesima Sunday, February 16th; Quinquagesima Sunday, February 23rd; Ash Wednesday, February 26th; First Sunday in Lent, March 2nd; Mid-Lent Sunday, March 23rd; Palm Sunday, April 6th; Good Friday, April 11th; Easter Sunday, April 13th; Low Sunday, April 20th; Rogation Sunday, May 18th; Ascension Day, May 22nd; Whitsunday, June 1st; Trinity Sunday, June 8th; Corpus Christi, June 12th; Advent Sunday, November 30th. HOLIDAYS OBSERVED IN PUBLIC OFFICES.-Circumcision, January 1st; Epiphany, January 6th; Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, March 25th; Good Friday, April 11th; Ascension Day, May 22nd; Queen's Birthday, May 24th; Corpus Christi, June 12th; St. Peter and St. Paul, June 29th; All Saints Day, November Ist; Conception of the Blessed Virgin, December 8th; Christmas Day, December 25th. BANK HOLIDAYS IN ONTARIO.—Sundays, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, The Queen's Birthday, and each day appointed by Royal Proclamation as a general Fast or Thanksgiving day. |