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Show 1875.] REV. S. J. WHITMEE ON PALOLA VIRIDIS. 501 three months (from October and November to July and August) in a single century. That such a change has not taken place I believe is certain. It is now twenty-seven or twenty-eight years since the Palolo season was carefully observed by the missionaries then resident in Samoa, and their observations recorded in Europe *. That no change has taken place since then the dates given in this paper prove. I think it probable that there will be an extra intercalation of one lunation during the present year. If I am correct in my theory of 13 lunations every third year, and that the last period of 13 lunations was 1871-1872, the present interval ought (according to the smaller cycle) to be one of 12 lunations. This would bring the time of the worm's appearance to October 2nd of the present year (1874). But, as I have already stated, that date would be earlier in the mouth than any appearance of which we have certain knowledge. Hence I am inclined to predict the next appearance of Palolo on the 31st of October (local time), after an interval of 13 lunations from the corresponding October season in 1873 f. In Dr. Seemann's work it is said the Fijians " expect a heavy shower of rain" after the Palolo have been cooked, " to put out the fires of their ovens. Should there be no rain a bad yam season is predicted." The Samoans have no such superstition as that of the Fijians connected with the Palolo ; but they have from time immemorial recognized the fact that this worm makes its appearance at the time when a change of seasons takes place. Hence the time when the prevailing trade-wind changes from S.E. to N.E. at the commencement of the summer, or rainy season, is called the vdi-palolo, which means the space or time of the Palolo. The opposite season, when the trade-wind changes from N.E. to S.E. at the commencement of the dry season, is in like manner called the vdi-td'elau, meaning the space or time of the change from the north wind. This is, in m y opinion, very positively in favour of the absolute identity, as to the time of year, of the present with the past Palolo seasons for a very long period. The vdi-palolo is as much an integral part of the Samoan dialect as is our word spring (with which it corresponds) an integral part of the English language ; and its origin is not modern. From the foregoing it is evident that a most remarkable compensation for the difference between lunar and solar time is made by some natural process in the development of this little annelid. I am not at present prepared to give an opinion as to how this can be effected. N.B. Since writing the preceding, I have explained to an intelligent Samoan the occurrence of 13 lunations between the appearance of the Palolo every third year. After thinking a minute or two, he said " That is the reason why so many mistakes have been made by Samoans in predicting the moon during which the Palolo will appear. * Vide Enc. Brit. xi. p. 297, and P. Z. S. March 9th^ 1847 t This has since proved to be correct. See P.S. of March 1 i th, 187o. |