PARACHUTES. 439 



I set a chimney on fire by one of these Parachutes. I wished 

 to see whether it would go up the chimney, and come out at the 

 top. Unfortunately it was caught by a flame as it was 

 launched, flew up in full blaze, and, as the chimney needed 

 sweeping, the result was inevitable. 



IN thej3entre of the illustrations, and at the top, are two 

 examples of a well-known natural Parachute called the 



FLYING SQUIRREL. DANDELION SEED PARACHUTE 



FLYING DKAGON. (OPEN AND CLOSED). (OPEN AND CLOSED). 

 FLYING FBOG. 



Dandelion seed. The resemblance to the real Parachute is 

 wonderful, the actual seed occupying the place of the car, and 

 fulfilling the same office, i.e. keeping the seed upright until it 

 reaches the ground. 



When the tuft is closed, as is the case before the pretty ball 

 of seeds bursts from the green envelope in which they had been 



