In these days of universal attainments, when Science becomes not merely a luxury to the rich, but bread to the poor, and when the very amusements as well as the conveniences of life have taken a scientific colour, it is reasonable to hope that the present volume may be acceptable to a large class of seekers after “things not generally known.” For this purpose, I have aimed at soundness as well as popularity; although, for myself, I can claim little beyond being one of those industrious “ants of science” who garner facts, and by selection and comparison adapt them for a wider circle of readers than they were originally expected to reach. In each case, as far as possible, these “CURIOSITIES” bear the mint-mark of authority; and in the living list are prominent the names of Humboldt and Herschel, Airy and Whewell, Faraday, Brewster, Owen, and Agassiz, Maury, Wheatstone, and Hunt, from whose writings and researches the following pages are frequently enriched. The sciences here illustrated are, in the main, Astronomy and Meteorology; Geology and Paleontology; Physical Geography; Sound, Light, and Heat; Magnetism and Electricity,--the latter with special attention to the great marvel of our times, the Electro-magnetic Telegraph. I hope, at no very distant period, to extend the “CURIOSITIES” to another volume, to include branches of Natural and Experimental Science which are not here presented. I. T. _November 1858._ CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTORY 1-10 PHYSICAL PHENOMENA 11-26 SOUND AND LIGHT 27-53 ASTRONOMY 54-103 GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY 104-145 METEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENA 146-169 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA 170-192 MAGNETISM AND ELECTRICITY 193-219 THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH 220-228 MISCELLANEA 229-241 The Frontispiece. THE GREAT ROSSE TELESCOPE. The originator and architect of this magnificent instrument had long been distinguished in scientific research as Lord Oxmantown; and may be considered to have gracefully commemorated his succession to the Earldom of Rosse, and his Presidency of the Royal Society, by the completion of this marvellous work, with which his name will be hereafter indissolubly associated. The Great Reflecting Telescope at Birr Castle (of which the Frontispiece represents a portion[1]) will be found fully described at pp. 96-99 of the present volume of _Curiosities of Science_.