92 
case ; these could be attached to the rockets now in use by 
crimping up, or corrugating thin sheet metal into feathers, 
or rudders, and forming them into a tube, which could be 
forced on to the rocket cases ; for those rockets intended to 
ricochet or for low angles, perhaps, three guides would be 
quite sufficient, having none at the under side of the case, 
because they might be knocked off at the first graze, and 
only tend to deflect the rocket from its intended destination; 
those for great elevations and long range, might be sur- 
rounded with a considerable number of feathers, each of 
small superficial area, to reduce the deflecting power of the 
wind at great elevations to a minimum. 
Rocket cases of sheet metal could be so formed that the 
feathers would have the appearance of star-like radiations, 
the inside corresponding to the outside. In rockets thus 
formed the issue of the gases would be in a straight line, 
and would assist the directive power of the external feathers. 
Of course, the oblique orifices used by Mr. Hale would not 
be required in these rockets. The rammers for the compo- 
sition would have to be adapted to this new form, and the 
usual V rest, would require one or more parallel guides for 
the feathers. I should expect feathered rockets to obtain a 
longer range than rifled ones, and the apparatus would not 
of necessity require to be more cumbrous than those in 
present use. I do not profess to have made a study of the 
subject, and, therefore, feel it necessary to apologize for 
taking up your time with suggestions in which I may have 
been anticipated; but up to the present moment they 
appear to me to be novel ; how far they may be practically 
useful, I must leave to experimental artillerists to decide. 
E. W. Binney, F.R.S., F.G.S., said that at the meeting of 
the Society, on the 1st December last, he brought before 
the members the valuable discovery of Professor Adolphe 
Brongniart of a fossil cone, containing both microspores and 
