C FI A P TER II. 
Bird-Flying. 
S I have already obferved, the fpeculations 
and experiments of both ancient and 
modern times have all had reference to 
birds, and if infers have received any 
attention, it has been becaufe no difference was perceived 
between their mode of air-locomotion and the flying of 
birds. 
Cavallo, in his difcurffve way, tells us of what fable and 
ftory mention—“ the winged horfes of the fun,” £< Juno’s 
peacocks,” “ Medea’s dragons,” u the pigeon of Archytas,” 
&c., and that Roger Bacon, who lived in the thirteenth 
century, fpeaks in his writings of <c artificial wings that 
may beat the air like a bird flying; ” alfo that the in¬ 
vention, faid to have been made by John Muller of Nurem¬ 
berg, commonly called Regiomontanus, and who died in 
1436, is defcribed as a flying “eagle.” It is alfo evident 
that Bifliop Wilkins, who wrote on flying in the fifteenth 
