PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. AT] 



small string tied from the wing B to the left foot, by which it Is moved down- 

 wards, at the san>e time that the wing A is moved downwards by the right hand. 

 F is a string fastened to the right leg, by which the right wing D behind is 

 made to descend at the same time that the left hand draws down C the left 

 wing before. When the person designs to fly, he fits these poles upon each 

 shoulder, so that 2 of the chassies may be before him, and the other 2, behind 

 him. Those chassies or wings which are before him, are moved or struck 

 downwards by the strength of his arms and hands, by which the hinder chassies 

 are lifted up, and those hinder wings are pulled or struck downwards by the 

 legs, which pull them down by the 2 strings which are fastened both to the 

 legs and hinder wings. — The manner and order of moving these wings is thus : 

 when the right hand strikes down the right wing before, the left leg by means 

 of the string E pulls downward the left wing behind B ; then immediately after, 

 the left hand moves or strikes downwards the left wing before C ; and at the 

 same time, the right foot by the string E, moves or pulls down the right wing 

 behind D, and so successively, and alternately, the diagonally opposite wings 

 always moving downwards, or striking the air together. 



Two things seem to be wanting to this machine. First, to find out a sub- 

 stance that shall be exceedingly light, and yet of great extension, which being 

 applied to any part of the body, it shall be able to suspend the weight of the 

 man in the air : the second is the fitting and adjusting of a tail, because this 

 will help both to support, and also to steer or guide the flier. But from divers 

 experiments that have been made by several persons without effect, it is con- 

 ceived that these motions and directions to the tail cannot be given without 

 much difficulty. 



But he pretends not nevertheless to be able to raise himself from the earth by 

 this his machine, nor to sustain himself any long time in the air, by reason of 

 the want of strength and quickness in his arms and legs, which is necessary to 

 move these kind of wings frequently and efficaciously enough ; but yet he is 

 confident that from a place pretty high elevated into the air, he shall be able to 

 pass over a river of a considerable breadth, having already done as much from 

 several heights, and at several distances. — He began his trials first by springing 

 out himself from a stool, then from the top of a table, then from a pretty hi^h 

 window, then from a window in a second story, and at last from a garret, from 

 whence he flew over the houses of the neighbours; practising thus with it by 

 little and little, till he had brought it to the present perfection. 



