March 2, 1^93] 



NATURE 



419 



the bullets was put together and set up by Mr. Barton, a 

 Student, whose very skilful help in the matter and after- 



wards during the experiments 

 value. 



I found of very great 



was put together. It was taken to see if the idea would 

 practically succeed, merely using for the purpose bits ot 

 wire and other things to be found 

 in any laboratory, which were set up 

 in a dark room in less than an hour. 

 The first shot was successful, but the 

 sharpness of the photograph is not 

 what it might be, owing to the fact 

 that I used, for the sake of the 

 brilliant light, a spark taken between 

 magnesium terminals. However, the 

 bullet is clearly enough defined, as 

 are the wires which it has just struck. 

 This is a photograph of a pistol 

 bullet travelling only 750 feet a second. 

 You will notice that unlike that taken 

 by Prof. Mach, which represented a 

 shot going at a much higher speed, 

 this photograph shows no atmospheric 

 phenomena surrounding the bullet. I 

 would only add, in connection with 

 this photograph, that by some acci- 

 dent the wad remained attached to 

 the bullet in this case forming the 

 enlarged tail. 1 do not know if this 

 often happens ; it must, if it does, 

 seriously disturb the flight of the 

 projectile, and introduce an anomaly 

 that might not easily be accounted 

 for. 



The next photograph. Fig. 6, shows 

 a bullet which has just left a Martini-Henry rifle. This 

 is taken with the apparatus in its latest form, and the bullet 



Fig. 7. 



The first photograph which I am able to show was I appears perfectly sharp. There is no sign of any move- 

 taken at Christmas, before the apparatus just described | ment whatever in so far as the bullet itself is concerned. 



NO. I 2 18, VOL. 47] 



