Animal Locomotion; or, walking, swimming, and flying: With a dissertation on aëronauticsPettigrew, James Bell
Science
Animal Locomotion; or, walking, swimming, and flying: With a dissertation on aëronautics
Pettigrew, James Bell
Aeronautics; Animal locomotion
_Exp. 10._ Detached posterior two-thirds of right wing in its long
axis, the left wing being untouched. Flight perfect. I expected that
this experiment would result in loss of balancing-power; but this was
not the case.
_Exp. 11._ Detached half of right wing transversely, the left one being
normal. The insect flew irregularly, and came to the ground about a
yard from where I stood. I seized it and detached the corresponding
half of the left wing, after which it flew away, as in experiment 6.
_Dragon-Fly._--_Exp. 12._ In the dragon-fly either the first or second
pair of wings may be removed without destroying the power of flight.
The insect generally flies most steadily when the posterior pair of
wings are detached, as it can balance better; but in either case flight
is perfect, and in no degree laboured.
_Exp. 13._ Removed one-third from the posterior margin of the first and
second pairs of wings. Flight in no wise impaired.
If more than a third of each wing is cut away from the posterior or
thin margin, the insect can still fly, but with effort.
Experiment 13 shows that the posterior or thin flexible margins of the
wings may be dispensed with in flight. They are more especially engaged
in propelling. Compare with experiments 1 and 2.
_Exp. 14._ The extremities or tips of the first and second pair of
wings may be detached to the extent of one-third, without diminishing
the power of flight. Compare with experiments 5 and 6.
If the mutilation be carried further, flight is laboured, and in some
cases destroyed.
_Exp. 15._ When the front edges of the first and second pairs of wings
are notched or when they are removed, flight is completely destroyed.
Compare with experiments 3, 4, and 9.
This shows that a certain degree of stiffness is required for the
front edges of the wings, the front edges indirectly supporting the
back edges. It is, moreover, on the front edges of the wings that the
pressure falls in flight, and by these edges the major portions of the
wings are attached to the body. The principal movements of the wings
are communicated to these edges.
_Butterfly._--_Exp. 16._ Removed posterior halves of the first pair of
wings of white butterfly. Flight perfect.
_Exp. 17._ Removed posterior halves of first and second pairs of wings.
Flight not strong but still perfect. If additional portions of the
posterior wings were removed, the insect could still fly, but with
great effort, and came to the ground at no great distance.
_Exp. 18._ When the tips (outer sixth) of the first and second pairs
of wings were cut away, flight was in no wise impaired. When more was
detached the insect could not fly.
_Exp. 19._ Removed the posterior wings of the brown butterfly. Flight
unimpaired.
_Exp. 20._ Removed in addition a small portion (one-sixth) from the
tips of the anterior wings. Flight still perfect, as the insect flew
upwards of ten yards.
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