Light science for leisure hours. A series of familiar essays on scientific subjects, natural phenomena, &c. &c

Abstract

Strange discoveries respecting the aurora. -- The earth a magnet.--Our chief timepiece losing time.--Encke, the astronomer.--Venus on the sun's face.--Recent solar researches.--Government aid to science.--American alms for British science.--The secret of the North pole.--Is the Gulf Stream a myth?--Floods in Switzerland.--A great tidal wave.--Deep-sea dredgings.--The tunnel through Mont Cenis.--Tornadoes.--Vesuvius.--The earthquake in Peru.--The greatest sea-wave ever known.--The usefulness of earthquakes.--The forcing power of rain.--A shower of snow crystals.--Long shots.--Influence of marriage on the death-rate--The topographical survey of India.--A ship attacked by a sword-fish.--The safety-lamp.--The dust we have to breathe.--Photographic ghosts.--The Oxford and Cambridge rowing styles.--Betting on horse races; or, The state of the odds.--Squaring the circle.--A new theory of Achilles' shield. ; Mode of access: Internet.