118 JAPANESE MAGIC MIRROR—PIERS. 
Art. VIL—REMARKS ON THE JAPANESE MAGIC MIRROR IN 
THE PROVINCIAL MusEuM.—By Harry PIErs. 
Read May 14th. 1888. 
Our mirror is circular, measuring 23 cm. (9.05 ins.) in diame- 
ter. The face is slightly convex, the centre being 2.5 mm. 
(0.1 in.) higher than the rim, which latter is nearly 4 mm. deep. 
When struck the metal gives out a clear note, corresponding to 
middle C sharp. Distant images appear decreased in size and 
slightly distorted, although this distortion is least observable 
when the mirror is held close to the eye. The back is ornamented 
in relief by characteristic Japanese inscriptions, and designs 
representing foaming waves and birds conventionally treated. 
Having made a full-sized drawing of the figures on the back 
of the mirrcr, and having marked the face with two non- 
reflecting spots to correspond with two other spots on the draw- 
ing, I proceeded to reflect the sun’s rays from the polished 
surface on to the drawing, which served for the purpose of a 
screen. The spots being made to coincide, I at once observed 
that one of the largest and most prominent designs on the paper 
was illumined more highly than the surrounding portion, and 
this difference was so decided and it corresponded so exactly 
with the drawing, that it left no doubt but that our mirror pos- 
sessed the curious properties said to belong to it, and which 
have been referred to by Mr. F. E. Ives in a late number of the 
Journal of the Franklin Institute. 
Although this part appeared so decided and sharp, yet there 
were other portions which should have been clearly reflected on 
the drawing which were either entirely wanting or so obscured 
and confused as to be, to all purposes, absent. On pressure being 
applied to the face the images dissolved, the illumined dise became 
smaller and finally appeared to correspond with the reflection of 
a common plane mirror. 
The same results were obtained by lamp-light but in this case 
