The Republican journal., 1889-09-19
Birds and Balloons.

level with my position there appeared in mid
air large hawk He stopped perfectly still
In the air and lazily moved his head about
looking for something in the gulch far beneath
him He was so near | could see his eyes.
That he stood perfectly still in the air was GER
tain for he was heading to the right and in
range of trees on the opposite mountain Here
was mysteryf How could Il bird weighing
eight or ten pounds stand still in md-air by
only holding his wings out straight and still;
for his wings and the feathers in his wings were
as still as his body. Just then, hearing a
sound, turned my head to the right and
strong gust of wind came full III nv face and
quickly turning, as the thought struck me, |
saw the bird was only ''ayng-to' on the wind.
Then saw that when the wind blew stronger
he lattehed out more and thus got less of it,
and by an easy adjustment of his tail and
wings he Just took wind enough to hold him
up, and bis wings 50 slanted as to draw him
ahead as boats sail, and his tail holding wind
enough to set him back with equal force, thus
getting a balance that enabled him to stand
perfectly still in the wind. He evidently saw
something for he changed his position several
times only few feet, and each time came to
perfect stop. and watched his movements for
several minutes, when he finally curved his
wings little and by an upward partly twist
lng motion of his tail he took the wind in his
right breast and larted off like an arrow hard
y three points from the wind, and it was all
Gone with 10 apparent effort except to hold his
wings and tail in carefully adjusted positions.
Flying is simply fine art. and some birds
become great masters of it. 1t Is worth ones
while 70 watch the young swallows learning to
fly on windy day about barn in the country
where they We're born. The old ones show
great skill darting about on the wind, first on
one course, then lacking to another, while sail
ing directly before the wind Is practically i'm
possible, aad tacktng about from one course TO
another the young birds frequently get blown
over and make a clumsy mess of it before they
can get Well set on the wind again. They
make short trips and soon get back to the barn
roof or to their pests under the caves with
their little hearts beating with the greatest eX-
citcmcnt. One can hardly watch them without
partakug Of the same feeling. The timid ones
watching the efforts of many other, before
trying at an, and then perhaps they will Start
of on the lee side Of the barn and fly round
into the wind, being afraid to dart OIL into the
fun force of the -aIe The chatter of the little
spectators when one aight, after some gallant
feat shows that il i exciting fun and they
never fail to applaud the winners. That they
i,
seem Flying i largely a fine art and not 50
much matter Of nature as We have been led
to believe.
FLYING III still ir, withoutany wind whatey-
cr, j. bard worH and the birds day Of sports il
in windy weather. But birds Ito not all fly
alike The swift wng movements of the part
ridge and the lou4 graceful movements Of a
cranes wings contrast with each other not
more than the ground sparrow, which practi-
calIy leaps from point to point in the air, using
his wings much as a Gra~shoppcr docs his leg>.
\ ooH ha> little >kill III hying and can only lily
when the wind blows, and he has 70 lly against
the Nia'l or he could not get sufficient pressure
on his wings to carry himself. The albatro.4
and the >eagu are Both experts on the wind.
In a severe gale an alhatros> ha> been known
to stand perfectly still on the wind for over d,
minute. He probably "Ay> to" to rest.
As man learned 70 naNi-atc the >ea by sails,
50 Tie j. likely 10 learn 10 navigate tile air with
q Kind Of wings. But he must first study the
arts of tho most >Ilful bird> and the ncrhani-
cal construction Of their wings for therein is 4
fund of knowledge. The joints Of the wing,
aud the leverage ;he muscle, have in the way
they draw over the joint, and where they at
tach y the body show that the bird flies more
BY Science than by main strength vt the me
chauiral construction of biri', wing is some
thiu4 wonderful, but not too wonderful to be
mjtated Ny man. 1t l. possible to make an
altitiriaI wing that can ID worked by machinery
WIKI a> much skill a. swallow or night
haWk can handle their own wings. The mod
ern balloon i quite 4, clumsy for the air as the
Old lmgout without sails or oars was for tile
water. For whoever yentured in it knew not
where he might drift. one can take a paln-
leaf fan and by SLOW motion up or down find
little resistance, Bat the quicker it moves the
more resistance it IN et- with, and it takes no
very quick motion to break it, the resistance Is
20 EfeAt. ytt y VIII stand ten pounds resist
''''G' u tne Ia" was STRONG enough u couid be
moved quick enough to meet sufficient resist
ah'e |" equai the weight OF man. Two wings
'"e >'He 81 an ea2't' WIhgS mlght he moved
fast enough 10 lift and carry man through
the aiE. flHIhG Is a question OF the construc-
uoh "hd management OF wing. more than the
re q them' II man hasn't strength enough
to fly when he is supplied with proper wings
then electricity will furnish sufficient addition
al power, or portion Of his additional weight
Gan be relieved ~ balloon attachments, bat it
= oN lhe pifd Wei%ht resting on h's wings
ana l'Il lhat lie mas the power OF navigation,
ana lor thlS reason haiioen> that viii raise
themselves can not pc good Shlpe 70 navigate.
GRAVITY ana Wlnd make the needed combina-
unh l"f Soou Halilllg
ne Time VIII come Wheh weight Will not he
tohN'Hefe" an OBSTRUCTION IN ar navigation.
t"he may he 50 constructed that fans can fold
ana 20 up through the centre Of it and spread
and come down the outside so 1t will dart
through the ar IKE an arrow. All that is need
ed i the power TO move the fan, with suf-
tirient speed. The speed with which the fans
come down the outside will determine how
n,,cb ,i,.,.u u.ilIIift If i,a,.,.o
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