38 
REACTIVE LOCOMOTION. 
blower, and, on the fuppofition that we are fhortly to have 
a light motor, the air may be as fafely navigated as water. 
I have myfelf contrived a Fanning-wheel that, to fay the 
lead:, gives good promife. This wheel is limply a hub 
furnifhed with wings made after the pattern wings of the 
dragon-fly; the revolution of the wheel in open air pro¬ 
ducing a powerful wind-blaft backwards. Now it feems 
to me that a number of fuch wheels, attached to a proper 
veflel, would in fome degree refemble what is to be found 
in the infedt world as reprefented by the dragon-fly. 
In what follows I deflre to have it underftood that by 
the term Bird-flying is meant readtive, direEl locomotion; 
the kind practifed by all flying creatures except the clafs 
typically reprefented in the dragon-fly : while by the term 
InfeB-Rying is meant readtive, indireEi , or pajjive loco¬ 
motion ; the kind practifed by all flying creatures typified 
in the dragon-fly. Humming-birds being more than half 
infedt, and their mode of flight being wholly fo, are to be 
regarded as included under this head. 
I do not offer this as fpeculation. I offer it as theory 
deduced from obfervation. Let him who doubts it go 
with me to Nature herfelf—come with me into the clover- 
fields—thick with round-tufted heads, the fweeteft of 
white and the juiciefl: of pink, and honey bees over them 
all; the air golden and ftill: not a breath; pulfing with its 
own quietude. Can there be anything more delightful 
than to lie down here and watch the movements of the 
