If a
piece of thermometer tubing, open at each end, be plunged into water, the
latter will instantly rise in the tube considerably above its external
level. If, on the other hand, the tube be plunged into mercury, a
repulsion instead of attraction will be exhibited, and the level of the
mercury will be lower in the tube than it is outside.]
[Footnote 5: Page 29. The late Duke of Sussex was, we believe, the first
to shew that a prawn might be washed upon this principle. If the tail,
after pulling off the fan part, be placed in a tumbler of water, and the
head be allowed to hang over the outside, the water will be sucked up the
tail by capillary attraction, and will continue to run out through the
head until the water in the glass has sunk so low that the tail ceases to
dip into it.]
[Footnote 6: Page 37. The alcohol had chloride of copper dissolved in it:
this produces a beautiful green flame.]
[Footnote 7: Page 54. Lycopodium is a yellowish powder found in the fruit
of the club moss (_Lycopodium clavatum_). It is used in fireworks.]
[Footnote 8: Page 58. Bunsen has calculated that the temperature of the
oxyhydrogen blowpipe is 8061 deg. Centigrade. Hydrogen burning in air has a
temperature of 3259 deg. C., and coal-gas in air, 2350 deg.
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