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To make this subject better understood, let us suppose the solar year to consist in round numbers of 365 days, and the civil year 366. It is evident that at the end of the year of 365 days, there would still be wanting one day to complete the civil year of 366 days, so one day must be added to that year, and to every succeeding year, to complete the years of 366 days each, which would be the loss of one year of 365 days in 365 years. Hence, 364 years of 366 days each are equal to 365 years of 365 days each, wanting one day.

Again, let us suppose the civil year to consist of 364 days. It is evident that at the end of the supposed solar year of 365 days, there would be an advance or gain of one day in that year and every succeeding year, so that in 365 years there would be a gain of 365 days or one whole year. Hence, 366 years of 364 days each are equal to 365 years of 365 days each, wanting one day. [Appendix F.]

CHAPTER V.

PECULIARITIES OF THE ROMAN CALENDAR.

The Romans, instead of distinguishing the days of the month by the ordinal numbers, first, second, third, etc., counted backwards from three fixed points, namely, the Calends, the Nones, and the Ides.

Calends (Latin Calandae, from Calare, to call,) was so denominated because it had been an ancient custom of the pontiffs to call the people together on that day to apprise them of the festivals, or days that were to be kept sacred during the month.

Nones (Latin nonae, from nonus, the ninth,) the ninth day before the Ides.

Ides (Latin idus, supposed to be derived from an obsolete verb iduare, to divide,) was near the middle of the month, either the 13th or the 15th day.