221] 



The Shape of the Earth 



277 



latitudes differing by 10 ; so that two consecutive verticals 

 are inclined in every case at an angle of 10. 



If, as in fig. 78, the shape of the earth is drawn in accord- 

 ance with Newton's views, the figure shews at once that 

 the arcs A A,, A, A^ etc., each of which corresponds to 10 of 

 latitude, steadily increase as we pass from a point A on the 

 equator to the pole B. If the opposite hypothesis be 



; FiG. 78. The varying curvature of the earth. 



adopted, which will be illustrated by the same figure if we 

 now regard A as the pole and B as a point on the equator, 

 then the successive arcs decrease as we pass from equator 

 to pole. A comparison of the measurements made by 

 Eratosthenes in Egypt (chapter n., 36) with some made 

 in Europe (chapter vm., 159) seemed to indicate that a 

 degree of the meridian near the equator was longer than 

 one in higher latitudes ; and a similar conclusion was in- 

 dicated by a comparison of different portions of an extensive 



