CHAPTER IV.

ON THE REFLECTION OF LIGHT.

Nature of reflection--Plane, convex, and concave speculums--Angle of reflection--Reflection of objects from plane mirrors, illustrated by figures--_Reflection by Convex and Concave mirrors_--Properties of _convex_ mirrors, and the purposes to which they are applied. Properties of concave speculums, and their utility--Of the _images_ formed by concave speculums--Illustrated by a variety of figures and experiments--Their power of magnifying and burning--Amusing deceptions produced by--Resemblance between the properties of convex lenses, and concave mirrors--Quantity of light reflected by polished surfaces

_page_ 81-106.

UNCOMMON APPEARANCES OF NATURE PRODUCED BY THE COMBINED INFLUENCE OF REFLECTION AND REFRACTION.

_Fata Morgana_--The Mirage--Inverted images of ships seen in the horizon--Appearance of Dover castle at Ramsgate--Spectre of the Brocken--Scenes in the Highlands of Scotland--Large cross seen at Migné in France--Dr. Wollaston’s illustrations of such phenomena--Utility of science in dissipating superstitious fears

_page_ 106-118.

REMARKS AND REFLECTIONS IN REFERENCE TO THE PHENOMENA DESCRIBED ABOVE.

Light, the beauty of the universe, and a symbol of the Divinity--In other worlds it may produce an infinite variety of sublime scenery

_page_ 118-122.