MAP, a representation, on a plane and a reduced scale, of part or the whole of the earth's surface. If specially designed to meet the requirements of seamen it is called a chart, if on an exceptionally large scale a plan. The words map and chart are derived from _mappa_ and _charta_, the former being the Latin for napkin or cloth, the latter for papyrus or parchment. Maps were thus named after the material upon which they were drawn or painted, and it should be noted that even at present maps intended for use in the open air, by cyclists, military men and others, are frequently printed on cloth. In Italian, Spanish and Portuguese the word _mappa_ has retained its place, by the side of _carta_, for marine charts, but in other languages both kinds of maps[1] are generally known by a word derived from the Latin _charta_, as _carte_ in French, _Karte_ in German, _Kaart_ in Dutch. A chart, in French, is called _carte hydrographique, marine or des côtes_; in Spanish or Portuguese _carta de marear_, in Italian _carta da navigare_, in German _Seekarte_ (to distinguish it from _Landkarte_), in Dutch _Zeekaart_ or _Paskaart_. A chart on Mercator's projection is called _Wassende graadkaart_ in Dutch, _carte réduite_ in French. Lastly, a collection of maps is called an atlas, after the figure of Atlas, the Titan, supporting the heavens, which ornamented the title of Lafreri's and Mercator's atlases in the 16th century. _Classification of Maps._--Maps differ greatly, not only as to the scale on which they are drawn, but also with respect to the fullness or the character of the information which they convey. Broadly speaking, they may be divided into two classes, of which the first includes topographical, chorographical and general maps, the second the great variety designed for special purposes. Topographical maps and plans are drawn on a scale sufficiently large to enable the draughtsman to show most objects on a scale true to nature.[2] Its information should not only be accurate, but also conveyed intelligibly and with taste. Exaggeration, however, is not always to be avoided, for even on the British 1 in. ordnance map the roads appear as if they were 130 ft. in width.