Magnetism. 31 



swans made of tin, or more properly of iron tinned 

 over, are sold, which, when put to swim in a basin 

 of water, will, when one end or pole of an arti- 

 ficial magnet is presented to them swim after 

 it ; and when the other end or pole is turned 

 towards them, they may be chased round the 

 bason. If a small piece of bread is stuck on the 

 end of the magnet which attracts them, an igno- 

 rant person will suppose that they are following 

 the bread as if to eat it. 



A small fish may also be made in the same 

 manner to swim in a basin of water, and will 

 follow a magnetic hook, or be lifted out of the 

 water by it. 



Sometimes an artificial pond is made, about an 

 inch in depth, and seven or eight in diameter, 

 with the hours of the day marked about its edge. 

 One of the magnetic swans is then put to swim in 

 the pond ; and if a watch is placed underneath, 

 with a small magnet fixed to the end or point of 

 its hour hand, the swan, guided by the magnet 

 beneath, will then swim to the hour, and show 

 the company the time of day. 



But there are not any of the magnetic experi- 

 ments more interesting or entertaining than that 

 of the divining circles. They are drawn on paper, 

 pasted on the top of a thin box, fig. 6. Pi. II. 

 The index a, is fixed on 'the axle of the toothed 

 wheel c, which works into the pinion d. On the 

 axle of d is another pinion of the same numberof 

 teeth, that puts in motion the wheel g, of the 



