1887.] 



339 



[Taylor. 



the number G4 for 60. This woukl interpolate 4 degrees into the sextant, 

 or 6 degrees into the quadrant ; malting the right angle to be expressed by 

 96° instead of 90^ as at present. This, then, is the table we should pro- 

 pose ; in which, it will be seen, the present values of arc are not so altered 

 as to disturb appreciably our long-established ideas of degree, minute and 

 second. 



Divisions of the Ciucle. 



One obvious advantage of this scale, in addition to its simplification, 

 would be to bring the azimuth compass into harmony with the mariners' 

 compass, by giving them common measures. As the latter divides the 

 quadrant into 8 "points" or "rhumbs," each of these would be (jpo 

 (12 degrees) instead of 11° 15', as at present ; and the quarter-point would 

 be e° (3 degrees) instead of 2° 48' 45". 



Tlie zodiac, or ecliptic circle, has from time immemorial been divided 

 into 12 "signs." This would be found a very convenient unit to be ap- 

 plied to such arcs generally, as would also the smaller unit of its quarter, 

 or LjQO the eighth part of the sextant. As there is no name for this, let 

 us give it the name of "arc " (made technical and specific), a name not 

 inappropriate, since it is about the smallest arc we can readily distinguish 

 from a straight line. This would give us the following scale : 



Should the above scheme of graduation for the circle be accepted, it 



