XIX.] THE FIGURE OF THE EARTH. 333 



are accurately represented, but the countries towards the 

 circumference are crowded together and diminished in size. 

 This defect has led to anofher method of projection, in 

 which the map-maker is supposed to have his eye on the 

 very surface of the globe, and to look through the solid 

 sphere as though it were a globe of glass, so as to see the 

 countries which are on the opposite side ; the outlines are 

 then drawn as they would be projected on a transparent 

 screen stretched across the middle of the sphere, and in 

 front of the observer's eye.^ 



In this method, it is found that the countries towards the 

 centre are contracted, while those near the circumference 

 are enlarged. The map is therefore distorted in exactly 

 the opposite direction to that of the previous projection. 

 Hence it seems natural that if the map-maker took up his 

 position at some intermediate point, having his eye neither 

 on the surface of the sphere, nor at an unlimited distance 

 from it, an accurate representation might be obtained. 

 The most favourable point of sight has been calculated, 

 and although the view obtained in this way is still distorted, 

 the distortion is less than in the other projections. This 

 method is consequently the usual way in which the pair of 

 hemispheres are drawn (Fig. 107). 



If instead of attempting to represent half the world at 

 once, the map-maker is required to represent only one 

 country — say Europe — he usually resorts to a different 

 device. Imagine a roll of paper screwed up like a sugar- 

 bag, and then placed over a model of the globe, like a 

 paper extinguisher : this cap will not fit the globe com- 

 pletely, but can be made to touch the central parallel of 

 latitude of the country which is to be mapped. Let the 



' This is the method of s'ereflgraphic projection : the lines of latitude 

 are represented as arcs of circles. Fig. 107 may be taken to represent 

 this projection, as it does not differ much from \\vt ghbu'ar projection. 



