152 



AUTOMATON. 



set out, moving their legs in a natural manner. When 

 the carriage 'reached the edge of the table, it turned 

 at a right angle, and proceeded along that edge. 

 When it arrived opposite to the place where the king 

 seated, it stopped, and the page getting down 

 opened the door; upon which the lady alighted, 

 having in her hand a petition, which she presented with 

 a curtsey. After waiting some time, she again curt- 

 sied, and re-entered the carriage ; the page then re- 

 sumed his place, the coachman whipped his horses, 

 which began to move, and the footman, running after 

 the carriage, jumped up behind it. It is to be re- 

 gretted, says M. Montucla, that M. Camus, instead 

 of confining himself to a general account of the me- 

 chanitm which he employed to produce these effects, 

 did not enter into a more minute description. See 

 Montucla's Edit, of Ozanam's Mathematical Re- 

 ' 'uii/t. 



Ingenious pieces of machinery imitating the mo- 

 tions of men and animals are frequently attached to 

 hour clocks, and brought into action at the end of 

 the different hours. There is a remarkable clock 

 of this kind at Lyons, and another at Strasburg. 

 M. le Droz of la Cuaux de Fonds, in the county 

 of Neufchatel, was famous for constructing clocks 

 of this kind. A very curious one, presented to his 

 Spanish majesty, had, among other curiosities, a sheep 

 which imitated the bleating of a natural one ; and 

 a dog watching a basket of fruit. When any-one 

 attempted to purloin the fruit, the dog gnashed his 

 teeth and barked ; and if it was actually taken away, 

 he never ceased barking till it was restored. 



Even the clock presented by the Kalif Haroun al 

 Rashidtothe French Emperor Charlemagne, deserves 

 to be mentioned as a remarkable specimen of ingenuity, 

 considering the time at which it was made. It was 

 a clepsydra, or clock moved by water. In the dial 

 were twelve small doors, forming the divisions of the 

 hours ; and each of these doors opened in succession 

 at the hour marked, and let out little balls, which, fall- 

 ing on a brazen bell, struck the hour. The doors 

 continued open till 12 o'clock, when twelve little 

 knights, mounted on horseback, came out together, 

 paraded round the dial, and shut all the doors. Such 

 a machine might well astonish all Europe, at a time 

 when the learned were wholly occupied by questions 

 of grammar, or scholastic theology. See Bossut's 

 History of the Mathematics, (in) 



Besides these machines, many of extreme ingenuity 

 have been constructed by skilful artists. Some are 

 complicated, and perform a great variety of motions 

 in the course of which a series of different figures 

 are introduced to view ; while others are confined to 

 the action of a single figure, and its appendages. Of 

 the former description are the machines composed of 

 numerous parts, adapted for certain branches of trades 

 and manufactures ; or where all the successive ope- 

 rations of mining, carrying, and preparing the ore, 

 are represented ; or where cavalcades, processions, 

 or sports, are shown. We have seen automatical exhi- 

 bitions, imitating cascades of the most limpid water, 

 and the blowing or closing of the petals of beautiful 

 flowers. But the chief object of mechanics has 

 been to imitate the action and faculties of living na- 

 ture, in which they have succeeded in a manner sur- 



passing belief. What relates to the motion of the Automa- 

 human figure, we have treated of under the article ton- 

 Axduoidks, already referred to; and we shall now ' 



continue briefly to advert to those of some animals, 

 in addition to what is above mentioned. 



We have seen the figure of a swan as large as life, 

 which gracefully curved its neck, or turned it round 

 as if to dress the plumage of its wings or body. 

 Having done this, it bent down it3 head, and taking 

 a metal fish in its bill, swallowed it. A peacock also 

 has been constructed, which, by machinery, could 

 erect or depress its crest, and unfold its tail ; it could 

 likewise lift a piece of money in its bill, while per- 

 forming all the motions peculiar to an animated ori- 

 ginal. Perhaps these figures should excite less cu- 

 riosity, from their larger size admitting - of the greater 

 complication of parts, and the more ample operation 

 of the mechanical powers, at least if we compare 

 them with others. Some automata of animals have 

 been made so inconceivably small, and at the same 

 time exhibiting such a diversity of action, as to claim 

 the ';tii'.ost admiration, not only of those unacquainted 

 with the principles of art, but of the most intelligent 

 mechanics. M. Maillardct, an artist on whom we 

 before bestowed our commendations when speaking 

 of the Androides, constructed an oval box about 

 three inches in length : the lid flew up, and a bird of 

 beautiful plumage, not larger than a small humming- 

 bird, started up from its nest. Its wings fluttered, 

 and its bill opening with the tremulous vibration pe- 

 culiar to singing birds, it began to warble. After 

 continuing a succession of notes which would fill a 

 large apartment, it darted down into its nest, and the 

 lid closed of itself. The machinery was here con- 

 tained in very narrow compass, and could produce four 

 different kinds of warbling: it was put in motion by 

 springs, which preserved their action during four 

 minutes. It has often created great surprise how 

 such a variety of notes could be produced within a 

 space where there was evidently no room for a cor- 

 responding number of pipes. The artist, however, 

 has accomplished his purpose by a very simple ex- 

 pedient. There is only one tube, the vacuity of 

 which is shortened or lengthened by a piston work- 

 ing inside, and thus producing sounds graver or more 

 acute, according as the machinery operates upon it. 



Still more minute is a spider, wholly fashioned of 

 steel, of which we have seen several species. The 

 mechanism effecting the motions of these figures, is 

 included in the body, and by means of various springs, 

 pinions, and levers, the legs are successively raised, 

 and the automaton advances. One constructed by 

 M. Maillardct, ran on the surface of a table during 

 three minutes ; and its course was so devised, as to 

 tend rather towards the centre of the table than the 

 edge. 



The same mechanic has made an automatical cater- 

 pillar, or lizard, and a mouse, all strictly imitating 

 the motions of nature. He has also constructed a 

 serpent, which crawls about in every direction, opens 

 its mouth, hisses, and darts out its tongue. The 

 source of motion, like that of the others, here consists 

 in spring*, and it continues in action seven minutes. 



Other automata, as a ship on wheels concealed from 

 vie*, men rowing a barge, the going of mills, and 



