CENTURY VIII. 39 



a shilling in the bottom of the water Avill shew greater; 

 so will a candle in a lanthorn, in the bottom of the 

 water. I have heard of a practice, that glow-worms 

 in glasses were put in the water to make the fish come. 

 But I am not yet informed whether when a diver 

 diveth, having his eyes open, and swimmeth upon his 

 hack; whether (I say) he seeth things in the air 

 greater or less. For it is manifest that when the eye 

 Btandeth in the finer medium, and the object is in the 

 grosser, things shew greater; but contrariwise, when 

 the eye is placed in the grosser medium, and the object 

 in the finer, how it worketh I know not. 



762. It would be well bolted out, whether great 

 refractions may not be made upon reflexions, as well 

 as upon direct beams. For example, we see that, take 

 an empty bason, put an angel of gold, or what you 

 will, into it ; then go so far from the bason, till you 

 cannot see the angel, because it is not in a right line; 

 then fill the bason with water; and you shall see it 

 out of his place, because of the reflexion. To proceed 

 therefore, put a looking-glass into a bason of water; I 

 suppose you shall not see the image in a right line, or 

 at equal angles, but aside. I know not whether this 

 experiment may not be extended so as you mio-ht see 

 the image, and not the glass ; which for beauty and 

 strangeness were a fine proof: for then you should see 

 the image like a spirit in the air. As for example, if 

 there be a cistern or pool of water, yon shall place over 

 against it a picture of the devil, or what you will, so 

 as you do not see the water. Then put a looking- 

 glass in the water: now if you can see the devil s 

 picture aside, not seeing the water, it will look like a 

 devil indeed. They have an old tale in Oxford, that 



