356 



♦ KNO\VLEDGE • 



[Apeil 24, 1885. 



4. It is preferable that two aides of the naye of a church be syni- 

 metrical, and unlike Fig. 4. 



Fig. 4. 



But 5. It is not preferable that the anterior and posterior parts 

 of an animal be symmetrical, like Fig. 5. With every liberty of 

 choice, the poet, the artist, and the herald, avoid exacting such 

 symmetry alike in the centaur, the satyr, the mermaid, and the 

 double-headed eagle. 



hi Y4/] \ A \^ 





Fig. 5. 



Fig. 6. 



6. Only a barbarian architect reverses the Corinthian capital to 

 form a base. See Fig. 6. 



7. Symmetry is avoided between the extremities of a large ship.* 

 Fig. 7 is unlike any type that the writer ever heard of. 



8. Symmetry is not aimed at between the extremities of a large 

 church. Fig. 8 shows three cases. 



* [Tes, but for reasons connected with her propulsion, not for 

 aesthetic ones. — Ec] 



Can any general conclusions bo dravm from the above data ? 



One partial conclusion would be that symmetry should prevail 

 among things on the same level : between two huican shoiJders, 

 two knees, two feet, and between the two Ionic volutes that are 



Fig. 7. 



equally lifted up above the surface of the earth, while variation 

 displays itself in things at different levels, between an elbow and 

 a knee, a capital and base. We cover the fotir walls of room with 

 similar paperhangings ; they are at a uniform level. The floor 

 and the ceiling at different levels, and no one thinks of carpeting 

 the ceiling to match the carpeted floor. 



^^^ !/\i 



'M\\ .^ — W 



WCSTMINSTER 



YORK K^^WSTEft 



A second conclusion would be that symmetry should only exist 



etween parts of an object separated by a small dimension opposed 



to a long length ; between these neighbouring eyes, cheelis, and 



shoulders whose distance is small compared to the length from 



head to foot. 



This generalisation would equally apply to the man recumbent 

 and the man erect, and would include the ship and the chtirch. 



There is an explanation on the ground of fitness and utility. A 

 symmetrical pair of legs are good for walking, a symmetrical pair 

 of paddles for propulsion ; but this does not apply to the church or 

 the picture-frame, inasmuch as they are not locomotive. 



Can the inquiry for a principle be carried any further ? Quite 

 easily, though it be dropped for the present. 



Ax Old Draughtsman. 



TA>'DEM TKICYCLES. 



[1685] — The best tandem is, in my opinion, the Humber Tandem, 

 particularly where the rider who sits behind has been a bicyclist : 

 but some ladies object to the Humber Tandem. 



The next machine I should mention in the order of merit, is the 

 tandem made by the Surrey ilachinist Company. Starley's 

 tandem is lower in price, and is a thoroughly solid, well-made, and 

 serviceable machine. John Browxing. 



[In a communication from llr. Browning, which is about to 

 appear, he promises to refer to the question of Collapsible Tricycles. 

 —Ed.] 



BEES AND THE COLOUES OF FLOWERS. 



[1686] — I quite agree with G. W. Bnlman's (1674) remarks con- 

 cerning the preference which bees exhibit for different colotired 

 flowers. As far as my observations have gone this spring, they 

 show that bees prefer yellow and white to blue, visiting yellow 

 crocus and neglecting adjacent blue ones : the same has been 

 observed as regards hyacinths. I have had, all the winter through, 

 a large number of violets in bloom, but on mild days when my bees 

 have been out, I have never remarked more than a solitary bee on 

 the blooms, although the bees were passing and repassing over the 

 beds. Nemophila maculata (blue and white) is recommended as a 

 useful honey-bearing plant ; but my experience of last year has 

 induced me not to plant any this year for my bees, as but little 

 attention was paid to these flowers until most other flowers were 

 gone, and only late blossoms of nemophila remained ; so this spring 

 I have confined myself to the sowing of yellow, white, and pink 

 colotued flowers, such as Sweet Sultan, ic. In partial support of 

 these views which I hold, paying at the same time all due respect 

 to the work of such an able observer as Sir J. Lubbock, I would 

 refer to an article in Xature, 1878, p. 334, where it is stated by T. 

 Meehan : — ** It seems to me that bees are not attracted to flowers 

 by colour or fragrance merely, but that they are influenced by 

 labour-saving ideas. . . . White varieties or scarlet varieties are 

 all one to them, they can distinguish the species by other means 

 I than colour." - F. W. 



