CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.—INTRODUCTORY.
PAGE
Science and Recreation—The Book of Nature—The Senses—Natural History—NaturalPhilosophy—Matter—Objects—Properties of Matter[1]
CHAPTER II.—OPEN-AIR SCIENCE.
Science in the Open Air—Aphides—Evaporation by Leaves—An Aquarium—TheCataleptic Fowl—Needle Points and Thorns—Microscopic Aquarium—CapeGrisnez—Crystals—Ice on the Gas Lamps[6]
CHAPTER III.—PHYSICS.
Physics—The Meaning of Physics—Forces of Nature—Gravity—Cohesion—ChemicalAttraction—Centre of Gravity—Experiments—Automaton Tumblers[22]
CHAPTER IV.—PHYSICS (Continued).
Some Properties of Solid Bodies—Inertia—Motion—Friction—The Pendulum—Equilibrium[35]
CHAPTER V.—GASES.
Gases and Liquids—Pressure of the Air—Experiments[44]
CHAPTER VI.—WATER.
About Water—Hydrostatics and Hydraulics—Law of Archimedes—The BramahPress—The Syphon[59]
CHAPTER VII.—HEAT.
Heat—What it is—Theory of Heat—The Thermometer—Expansion by Heat—Ebullitionand Distillation[72]
CHAPTER VIII.—HEAT (Continued).
Specific Heat—Fusion—Latent Heat—Conduction and Convection of Heat—Calorescence[88]
CHAPTER IX.—LIGHT.
Light and its Sources—What is Light?—Velocity of Light—Reflection and Refraction—RelativeValue of Lights[93]
CHAPTER X.—LIGHT (Continued).
Vision and Optical Illusions—The Eye Described—Accommodation of the Eye—ChromaticAberration—Spinning Tops[102]
CHAPTER XI.—OPTICS.
Optical Illusions—Zollner’s Designs—The Thaumatrope—Phenokistoscope—TheZootrope—The Praxinoscope—The Dazzling Top[116]
CHAPTER XII.—OPTICS (Continued).
Optical Illusions Continued—Experiments—The Talking Head—Ghost Illusions[129]
CHAPTER XIII.—OPTICS (Continued).
Vision—The Eye—The Stereoscope—Spectrum Analysis—The Spectroscope—TheTelescope and Microscope—Photography—Dissolving Views—Luminous Paint[140]
CHAPTER XIV.—SPECTRAL ILLUSIONS.
A Spectre Visible—Curious Illusions—Ghosts[161]
CHAPTER XV.—ACOUSTICS.
The Ear and Hearing—Physiology of Hearing and Sound—Sound as Compared withLight—What is Sound?—Velocity of Sound—Conductibility—The Harmonograph[166]
CHAPTER XVI.—ACOUSTICS (Continued).
The Topophone—The Megaphone—The Autophone—The Audiphone—The Telephone—ThePhonograph—The Microphone[180]
CHAPTER XVII.—ACOUSTICS (Continued).
The Tuning-Fork—The Syren—Sound Figures—Singing Flames[193]
CHAPTER XVIII.—ELECTRICITY.
Derivation of Electricity—Sealing Wax Experiment—The Electrophorus—Leyden Jar—Positiveand Negative—The Electroscope—Electric Machines[197]
CHAPTER XIX.
Velocity of Electricity—Experiments—The Electric Egg—Force of the Electric Spark[212]
CHAPTER XX.—GALVANISM.
Galvani’s Discovery—The Frogs Electrified—Experiments—Volta’s Pile—The Test—ItsUsefulness—Faraday’s “Researches.”[217]
CHAPTER XXI.—MAGNETISM.
The Loadstone—Magnetic Curves—The Magnetic Needle—The Mariner’s Compass—Magneto-Electricity[254]
CHAPTER XXII.—APPLIED ELECTRICITY.
Sundry Electrical Appliances—Mr. Edison’s Inventions—The Electric Light—TheGyroscope—A New Electrophorus—Electric Toys[262]
CHAPTER XXIII.—AERONAUTICS.
Pressure of Air in Bodies—Early Attempts to fly in the Air—Discovery of Hydrogen—TheMontgolfier Balloons—First Experiments in Paris—Noted Ascents[293]
CHAPTER XXIV.—CHEMISTRY.
What Chemistry is—The Elements—Metallic and Non-Metallic—Atomic Weight—Acids—Alkalis—Bases—Salts—ChemicalCombination and Study[307]
CHAPTER XXV.—CHEMISTRY (Continued).
Chemistry without a Laboratory[313]
CHAPTER XXVI.—CHEMISTRY (Continued).
Chemistry and Alchemy—Chemical Combinations—The Atmospheric Air[336]
CHAPTER XXVII.—THE ELEMENTS.
Non-Metallic Elements[348]
CHAPTER XXVIII.—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS (Continued).
Chlorine—Bromine—Iodine—Fluorine—Carbon—Sulphur—Phosphorus—Silicon—Boron—Tellurium—Arsenic[366]
CHAPTER XXIX.—THE METALS.
What Metals are—Characteristics and General Properties of Metals—Classification—SpecificGravity—Descriptions[386]
CHAPTER XXX.—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY.
Radicals—Acids—Bases—Neutrals[410]
CHAPTER XXXI.—MINERALOGY AND CRYSTALLOGRAPHY.
The Minerals—Characteristics—Crystals and their Forms—Descriptions of Minerals[424]
CHAPTER XXXII.—NEW LOCOMOTIVE APPLIANCES.
The Kite—The Aerophane—Ice Yachts—Sailing Trucks—Water Velocipedes[448]
CHAPTER XXXIII.—ASTRONOMY.
Introductory—History of Astronomy—Nomenclature[466]
CHAPTER XXXIV.—ANGLES AND MEASUREMENT OF ANGLES.
The Quadrant—Transit Instrument—Clocks—Stellar Time—Solar Time—“MeanTime”[474]
CHAPTER XXXV.—THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
Gravitation—The Planets—Size and Measurement of the Planets—Satellites—FallingStars—Comets—Aerolites[486]
CHAPTER XXXVI.—THE SUN.
Motion of the Sun—The Seasons—Character of the Sun—Sun-Spots—Zodiacal Light[496]
CHAPTER XXXVII.—THE EARTH.
Form of the Earth—Motion of the Globe—Rate and Manner of Progression—Latitudeand Longitude—The Seasons[504]
CHAPTER XXXVIII.—THE MOON.
What is it Like?—Moon Superstitions—Description of the Moon—Phases—Tides—Eclipses[510]
CHAPTER XXXIX.—THE STARS.
The Planets and Asteroids[521]
CHAPTER XL.—THE FIXED STARS.
Fixed-Stars—Magnitude of the Stars—Constellations—Descriptions of the ZodiacalConstellations—Northern and Southern Star Groups—Distance of Stars[535]
CHAPTER XLI.—THE STARS (Continued).
Double and Multiple Stars—Coloured and Variable Stars—Clusters, Groups, andNebulæ—The Galaxy, or Milky Way—How to Find out the Principal Stars[546]
CHAPTER XLII.—NEW ASTRONOMICAL APPLIANCES.
A Celestial Indicator—Astronomical or Cosmographical Clock—A Simple Globe—ASolar Chronometer[557]
CHAPTER XLIII.—PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY.
Geography and Geology—The Earth’s Crust—Origin of the Earth—Denudation andExcavation by Water—Rocks, Gravel, and Sand—Classes of Rocks[564]
CHAPTER XLIV.—GEOLOGY.
Crust of the Earth—Geological Systems—Eozoic, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Pre-HistoricFormations[573]
CHAPTER XLV.—GEOLOGY (Continued).
The Mesozoic System—The Triassic, Oolitic, and Cretaceous Formations—TheEocene, Miocene, and Pliocene—The Glacial Period—Pre-Historic Man[584]
CHAPTER XLVI.—PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.
Igneous Rocks—Land and Water—Springs, Wells, and Geysers—Snow and Ice—TheirEffects[601]
CHAPTER XLVII.—THE SEA AND THE SKY.
The Sea—Salt Water—Waves and their Effects—Under Water—The Floor of theOcean[610]
CHAPTER XLVIII.—PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. METEOROLOGY.
The Atmosphere—Winds and Air Currents—Wind Pressure—Storms—Rain-clouds—Water-Spouts—AtmosphericalPhenomena[628]
CHAPTER XLIX.—PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. METEOROLOGY (Continued).
Atmospheric Phenomena—Thunder and Lightning—Aurora Borealis—The Rainbow—Mock-Sunsand Mock-Moons—Halos—Fata Morgana—Reflection and Refraction—Mirage—Spectreof the Brocken[642]
CHAPTER L.—PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. CLIMATOLOGY.
Weather; Climate, and Temperature—Isothermal Lines—Isobars, Weather Forecasts,and Signs of the Sky[651]
CHAPTER LI.—BIOLOGY. PART I.: BOTANY.
Plants and Animals—Structure of Plants—Flowering Plants—The Stem—The Leaves—Formsof Leaves[658]
CHAPTER LII.—FLOWERING PLANTS.
Organs of Increase and Reproduction—The Flower—The Calyx—The Corolla—TheStamen—The Pistil[675]
CHAPTER LIII.—FLOWERING PLANTS (Continued).
The Floral Axis—Inflorescence—Fruit—Seed—Nutrition of Plants—Absorbtion ofConstituents[679]
CHAPTER LIV.—ZOOLOGY.
Classification of Animals—Vertebrates and Invertebrates—Protozoa—Hydrozoa—Actinozoa[700]
CHAPTER LV.—ECHINODERMATA—ANNULOSA—ENTOZOA—INSECTA.
Sea-Urchins—Star-Fishes—Feathery Stars—Sea-Cucumbers—Worms—Leeches—Rotifers—TapeWorms—Insects[712]
CHAPTER LVI.—THE ANALYSIS OF CHANCE AND MATHEMATICAL GAMES.
Magic Squares—The Sixteen Puzzle—Solitaire—Equivalents[726]
CHAPTER LVII.—GAMES (Continued).
The Magic Top—The Gyroscope and Scientific Games[740]
CHAPTER LVIII.—SCIENCE AT HOME.
Scientific Objects for the Household[747]
CHAPTER LIX.—DOMESTIC SCIENCE.
Science and Domestic Economy[757]
CHAPTER LX.—CURIOUS INVENTIONS.
Some Curious Modes of Transit[770]

SCIENTIFIC RECREATIONS.