25 SEPTEMBER 1909, Page 19

A PUZZLE.

[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The following has occurred to tne as a possible explana- tion of your correspondent's puzzle. On June 17th last there was an eclipse of the sun, not visible at Greenwich. The eclipse began shortly before midnight on that day and termi- nated shortly after midnight,—that is, early in the morning of the 18th. An observer in the locality where the eclipse was visible would therefore have seen the moon on the 17th and 18th. The previous new moon was on May 19th at 1.42 p.m. and the subsequent one on July 17th at 10.45 a.m. If the atmospheric conditions were favourable, it would be possible to see the moon every day from May 20th to July 16th,—that is, fifty-eight days.—I am, Sir, ar.c.,

LEWIS 0. MATHEWS.

32 Clarendon Road, Edgbaston.