Since the paper on the possibility of soaring in horizontal wind was read, no efforts have been spared to determine the essential features of curved surfaces that are of any practical utility to aeronautics, and the model shown in Fig. 1 embodies what is known to date. The poles and horizontal cord have been found a most useful method of experimenting ; indeed, it may safely be said that without them the trifling amount of available wind would have been quite inadequate to find out anything new. As suggestions to those who wish to advance this matter rapidly, it may be stated that the wind near the ground is comparable to the surf on the sea shore, which all will admit is not suitable for testing the sailing capacity of yachts or boats. To utilize wind from all directions, a platform of wire netting should be placed in a situation like the top of the shearlegs on Garden Island.

This question has been so much discussed within the last few years, and so many are daily observing and studying the flight of every specimen of bird, that it is somewhat astonishing to me I have not yet come across any mention of the method which to my mind accounts for all the wonderful, and, to other theories, apparently impossible results of the ways of an eagle in air. I should be very glad to hear what objections can be raised to my explanation of how soaring is accomplished by any or all of the numerous writers and thinkers whose marvellous mathematical calculations enable them to account for some of the manoeuvres of birds to their own satisfaction. I have not yet seen any description of a theory which claims to account for every movement of all birds, but it must be admitted if any theory falls short of that, it cannot be correct; whilst if it fulfils that condition it cannot be very far wrong.

Tuesday morning, October 12, 1897, opened out bright and clear at Eastbourne. At 6 a.m. no clouds obscured a perfectly blue sky, and a gentle breeze blew from the north-west. It was decided that the conditions were favourable for a balloon voyage to Prance. The grounds of Devonshire Park had been kindly placed at. our disposal by Mr. A. Standen Triggs, Managing Director. The balloon had been prepared for inflation overnight, and arrangements made with the Eastbourne Gas Company to be in readiness to turn on the gas if desired. This was done at 7 a.m., and the inflation proceeded satisfactorily until the balloon was full at 9 o'clock. The balloon had a cubic capacity of 35,000 ft., was nearly new, having previously ascended on six occasions only at the Crystal Palace, at Shrewsbury, and at Beading. These ascents had all seasoned the balloon, and a recent coat of varnish had rendered it gas-tight and in good condition.