[ 5° 8 '] 
wards the Middle, where a Hole is made to receive 
the Cap. At the Ends they terminate in an Angle 
greater or left, according to the Skill or Fancy of 
the Workman. Now, tho 5 the worfl: of thefe are 
infinitely preferable to thofc of Wire, yet the belt 
of them are far from being perfect. Every Needle 
of this Form has 6 Poles inftcad of two. There is 
one at each End, two where it becomes tapering, 
and two at the Hole in the Middle. This is owing 
to their Shape ; for the middle Part being very fen- 
der, it has not Subftancc enough to conduct the 
magnetic Stream quite through from one End to 
the other. All thefe Poles appear very diftinQIy, 
when examined with a Glals that is fprinkled over 
with magnetic Sand. Neverthelefs this Circumftance 
does not hinder the Needle from pointing true; but 
as it has lefs Force to move the Card, than when 
the magnetic Stream moves in large Curves from 
one End to the other, it is certainly an Imperlediom 
I examined an hard Needle of this fort, whole 
Ends were very broad, and terminated in an acute 
Angle ; and obferved, that, tho’ its Motion was very 
free and vigorous, yet I could make it Hand one 
Degree on either Side the true Point ; and being at 
a Lofs to account for ir, I tried what Appearance it 
would'make under a Glafs with magnetic Sand, and 
di (cover'd that rhe magnetic Scream came out of 
the Sides, which formed the acute Angle at the 
Ends, in Lines that were almoft perpendicular ro 
thofe Sides, and then was bent round to go to the 
other Pole : From whence I concluded, that when 
the Needle was drawn a little from the true Point, 
the Stream, which came out of one of thefe Sides, 
would 
