猫与潮汐

晌午12:10左右,正在大快朵颐,这时,老妈去阳台晾衣物回来,提了句「猫洗脸,潮水涨」,我迟钝片刻,继续扒饭。还嘲笑道:大惊小怪了吧,猫洗脸不是天经地义的嘛,而且猫和潮汐根本就是风马牛不相及,这只是一个动物的随机行为。

老妈解释道,你外婆亲口告诉我的,不信你去查查现在的潮汐。

心底思忖着“不服气”三字的我,放下碗筷,在中国海事局在线 查询了当天宁波的潮汐表,结果让我有些意外,

当天的9:19 - 14:58还真是涨潮时段!

一脸狐疑的我放狗一嗅,不查不知道,190多年前咸丰年间黄汉编著的《猫苑》真的有提过:

猫洗脸过耳,主有宾客至(引《酉阳杂俎》)。
汉按:“瓯谚猫洗面,日有次度者,谓随潮水长落”。

有趣的很,这条黄汉的“按语”竟与外婆的经验之谈不谋而合。

潮汐与月球有关是系科学共识。女子潮汐与月球有关亦古而有之,所以癸水又名月事、月使、月讯、月脉、月客、月浣、月候。“猫洗面”也和月球运行有关,这让我情何以堪?

找了一篇美国宠物医药公司Diamondback Drugs疑似辟谣的文章Is Your Dog or Cat Exhibiting Strange Behavior? Could Be the Moon

Does the Moon Really Affect Pet Behavior?

Most pet owners will tell you that the full moon definitely has an effect on their pets’ behavior. Dogs, like their ancestors the wolves, are known to howl at the moon when it’s full. Cats tend to hide. Birds become agitated and sometimes even disoriented. Veterinary offices and pet hospitals become congested with visits.

However, none of these behaviors has ever been scientifically proven to be directly caused by the cycles of the moon.

为什么说疑似辟谣,因为文章本身也只是说目前暂时无科学证据证明动物行为会受月球的直接影响,换而言之,也无科学证明动物行为是不受月球影响,不是吗?