374 Flying Machines. 



Fig. 14. Didymogra/psus crucialis, Salt, sp. 



Fig. 16. Didymogra/psus elegans, Car. a, portion of an 

 adult specimen ; b, young specimen, showing the primary 

 point, or "radicle/'' c, the same magnified. 



Fig. 17. Cladograpsus linearis, Car. b, portion magnified 

 to show the form of the cells. 



FLYING MACHINES. 



In all ages men have envied the powers of flight possessed by 

 birds, and from ancient to modern times inventors and schemers 

 have busied their brains with devices intended to confer upon 

 humanity the desirable faculty of aerial locomotion. For the 

 most part, such efforts have been made by a class of projectors 

 whose folly and infatuation have thrown ridicule upon the idea. 

 Over and over again, the most absurd contrivances have been 

 represented as sure to achieve success — a little more money 

 was the only thing required; and if a sympathizing public 

 would only find the funds, blundering enthusiasts promised, 

 and believed, that they would fly like jackdaws from the neigh- 

 bouring steeple, or soar like eagles far above the haunts of 

 men. 



The recent establishment of an "Aeronautical Society" in 

 this country, under the presidency of the Duke of Argyll, and 

 with a council containing such men as Sir Charles Bright and 

 William Fairbairn, James Giaisher and F. H. Wenham, has 

 already had the curious effect of raising expectations in scien- 

 tific minds, that at last some form of flying apparatus may be 

 made to succeed. Of late years, a partial study of the wings 

 of birds, and of their methods of action, seemed to show that 

 flight was a physical impossibility for man. The size of the 

 bird's wing was so large, in proportion to the creature's 

 weight, and it appeared to demand so great an amount of 

 muscular force for its movements, that it seemed perfectly 

 hopeless to expect that human muscles could wield an appa- 

 ratus of the required dimensions, and with the velocities 

 demanded, or that any mechanism could be constructed gene- 

 rating sufficient force in proportion to its weight. Mr. 

 Wenhanr's researches into the matter have materially modified 

 the opinions of those who heard his paper read, or who have 

 perused it in the First Annual Report of the Aeronautical Society 

 of Great Britain.* 



He has thrown much light upon that very complicated and 



* Published by Cassell and Co. 



