The results of the measures thus obtained confirmed the theoretical expectation of the oblate form.

Since that time many extensive and exact repetitions of the observation have been made, among which may be mentioned those of the English in England and in India, and particularly that of the French on the occasion of the introduction of the metric system of weights and measures.

It was begun by Delambre and Mechain, from Dunkirk to Barcelona, and thence extended, by Biot and Arago, to the island of Formentera near Minorea.

Its length was nearly twelve and a half degrees.
Besides this method of direct measurement, the figure of the earth may be determined from the observed number of oscillations made by a pendulum of invariable length in different latitudes.

These, though they confirm the foregoing results, give a somewhat greater ellipticity to the earth than that found by the measurement of degrees.