THE SPHAEROBOLUS GUN 



335 



plate. There can be no doubt that the projectile would have been 

 shot several feet higher if its flight had not been stopped by the 

 ceiling. 



No attempt was made to determine the maximum vertical 

 range of the fruit-bodies. 



Summary of Observations on the Range of Sphaerobolus Guns. — 

 On the theory of ballistics, neglecting the resistance of the air, the 

 maximum horizontal range of a gun is twice the vertical range. 

 Taking the resistance of the air into consideration, the horizontal 

 range should be less than twice the vertical range ; and the smaller 

 the projectile, the more closely should the two ranges approximate. 

 Miss Walker, as we have seen, obtained a maximum vertical range 

 of 14 feet 5 inches and yet a maximum horizontal range of only 

 17 feet 3 inches. It was to be expected that the horizontal range 

 would be greater. In all probability, had her fungus guns all been 

 directed upwards at an angle of rather less than 45°, and had they 

 been as numerous and as vigorous as those used for determining 

 the vertical range, the maximum horizontal range would have been 

 found to exceed at least 20 feet. There is still room for a new and 

 even more wonderful record in fungus artillery than any so far 

 obtained. 



The maximum ranges hitherto obtained by Miss Walker and by 

 myself may be tabulated as follows. 



Range of the Sphaerobolus stellatus Gun. 



