92 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [JaN. 30 



soar, its fixity in the plaue of rotation will hold it constant to its 

 original inclination, while the wind of advance will lift its 

 forward edge, and at its utmost reach of progressive force, still 

 whirling swiftly, it "touches the button," if you will pardon 

 the expression, for its return, and gravity ' ' does the rest, ' ' 

 sliding it down to Mother Earth along the line of least resist- 

 ance, which is the direction of its inclination, caused by the 

 wind of advance. 



It is a somewhat singular fact that after several years of 

 experiments with a great variety of shapes, the one which I 

 have selected as best suited to popular use, is the same figure 

 with which my first experiment was made, built upon the theory 

 of its requirements. And I must add, that as against the 

 unqualified assertions of very eminent authorities, viz. : That 

 it is " impossible to aim accurately with the returning boome- 

 rang," quite an astonishing degree of accuracy may be attained 

 by the methods which I pursued. And it is this shape which 

 makes possible the statement at the beginning of this pajjer, 

 for it has not one of the enumerated essential features of the 

 Australian Boomerang. Its curve is not parabolic ; it has no 

 convex upper side ; it is not thickest in the middle ; it has no 

 warp or twist, and it is not dented. 



"While I leave something interesting untold, I will, however, 

 add in a general way in conclusion, that I believe my ai^plication 

 of the principles involved will solve the problem of " stability ' 

 for the " Ariators," which they have so long sought in vain, 

 and for the want of which their models of flying machines, 

 though they would rise without the aid of a bouyancy chamber 

 of any sort, were quite as likely to proceed end over end or 

 wrong side up, as the right yvaj. My belief is based ujDon the 

 fact that a small flying model of my own make, not only 

 proceeded right side up, but it alighted gently upon its feet, so 

 to si^eak, every time. 



And so it mav be said that this " scientific vagabond," as the 

 boomerang has been called, has been carrying around with it a 

 secret, Avhich, let us hope, may some day serve a useful purpose 

 for the good of mankind. 



