| CHAPTER I.—INTRODUCTORY. |
| PAGE |
| Science and Recreation—The Book of Nature—The Senses—Natural History—Natural Philosophy—Matter—Objects—Properties of Matter | 1 |
| CHAPTER II.—OPEN-AIR SCIENCE. |
| Science in the Open Air—Aphides—Evaporation by Leaves—An Aquarium—The Cataleptic Fowl—Needle Points and Thorns—Microscopic Aquarium—Cape Grisnez—Crystals—Ice on the Gas Lamps | 6 |
| CHAPTER III.—PHYSICS. |
| Physics—The Meaning of Physics—Forces of Nature—Gravity—Cohesion—Chemical Attraction—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 Bramah Press—The Syphon | 59 |
| CHAPTER VII.—HEAT. |
| Heat—What it is—Theory of Heat—The Thermometer—Expansion by Heat—Ebullition and 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—Relative Value of Lights | 93 |
| CHAPTER X.—LIGHT (Continued). |
| Vision and Optical Illusions—The Eye Described—Accommodation of the Eye—Chromatic Aberration—Spinning Tops | 102 |
| CHAPTER XI.—OPTICS. |
| Optical Illusions—Zollner’s Designs—The Thaumatrope—Phenokistoscope—The Zootrope—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—The Telescope 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 with Light—What is Sound?—Velocity of Sound—Conductibility—The Harmonograph | 166 |
| CHAPTER XVI.—ACOUSTICS (Continued). |
| The Topophone—The Megaphone—The Autophone—The Audiphone—The Telephone—The Phonograph—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—Positive and 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—Its Usefulness—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—The Gyroscope—A New Electrophorus—Electric Toys | 262 |
| CHAPTER XXIII.—AERONAUTICS. |
| Pressure of Air in Bodies—Early Attempts to fly in the Air—Discovery of Hydrogen—The Montgolfier Balloons—First Experiments in Paris—Noted Ascents | SCIENTIFIC RECREATIONS.
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