Chapter I: Preface

A glance at almost any page of this work will denote its object. It is to show the close connection between Nature and human inventions, and that there is scarcely an invention of man that has not its prototype in Nature. And it is worthy of notice that the greatest results have been obtained from means apparently the most insignificant.

There are two inventions, for example, which have changed the face of the earth, and which yet sprang from sources that were despised by men, and thought only fit for the passing sport of childhood. I allude, of course, to Steam and Electricity, both of which had been child’s toys for centuries before the one gave us the fixed engine, the locomotive, and the steamboat, and the other supplied us with the compass and the electric telegraph.

In the course of this work I have placed side by side a great number of parallels of Nature and Art, making the descriptions as terse and simple as possible, and illustrating them with more than seven hundred and fifty figures. The corollary which I hope will be drawn from the work is evident enough. It is, that as existing human inventions have been anticipated by Nature, so it will surely be found that in Nature lie the prototypes of inventions not yet revealed to man. The great discoverers of the future will, therefore, be those who will look to Nature for Art, Science, or Mechanics, instead of taking pride in some new invention, and then finding that it has existed in Nature for countless centuries.

I ought to mention that the illustrations are not intended to be finished drawings, but merely charts or maps, calling attention to the salient points.

CONTENTS.

NAUTICAL.

CHAP. PAGE

I. THE RAFT 1

II. THE OAR, THE PADDLE, AND THE SCREW 12

III. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES.--PART I. 23

IV. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES.--PART II. 34

V. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES.--PART III.--THE BOAT-HOOK AND PUNT-POLE.--THE LIFE-BUOY AND PONTOON-RAFT 44

WAR AND HUNTING.

I. THE PITFALL, THE CLUB, THE SWORD, THE SPEAR AND DAGGER 50

II. POISON, ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE.--PRINCIPLE OF THE BARB 62

III. PROJECTILE WEAPONS AND THE SHEATH 74

IV. THE NET 85

V. REVERTED SPIKES 102

VI. THE HOOK.--DEFENSIVE ARMOUR.--THE FORT 115

VII. SCALING INSTRUMENTS.--DEFENCE OF FORT.--IMITATION.--THE FALL-TRAP 132

VIII. CONCEALMENT.--DISGUISE.--THE TRENCH.--POWER OF GRAVITY.--MISCELLANEA 144

ARCHITECTURE.

I. THE HUT, TROPIC AND POLAR.--PILLARS AND FLOORING.--TUNNEL ENTRANCE OF THE IGLOO.--DOORS AND HINGES.--SELF-CLOSING TRAP-DOORS 159

II. WALLS, DOUBLE AND SINGLE.--PORCHES, EAVES, AND WINDOWS.--THATCH, SLATES, AND TILES 177

III. THE WINDOW.--GIRDERS, TIES, AND BUTTRESSES.--THE TUNNEL.--THE SUSPENSION-BRIDGE 190

IV. LIGHTHOUSES.--THE DOVETAIL.--THE DAM.--SUBTERRANEAN DWELLINGS.--THE PYRAMIDS.--MORTAR, PAINT, AND VARNISH 207

TOOLS

I. THE DIGGING-STICK.--SPADE.--SHEARS AND SCISSORS.--CHISEL AND ADZE.--THE PLANE AND SPOKESHAVE 222

II. THE SAW AND ITS VARIETIES 239

III. BORING TOOLS.--STRIKING TOOLS.--GRASPING TOOLS 249

IV. POLISHING TOOLS.--MEASURING TOOLS 263

OPTICS.

I. THE MISSIONS OF HISTORY.--THE CAMERA OBSCURA.--LONG AND SHORT SIGHT.--STEREOSCOPE AND PSEUDOSCOPE.--MULTIPLYING-GLASSES 276

II. THE WATER-TELESCOPE.--IRIS OF THE EYE.--MAGIC LANTERN.--THE SPECTROSCOPE.--THE THAUMATROPE 291

USEFUL ARTS.

I. PRIMITIVE MAN AND HIS NEEDS.--EARTHENWARE.--BALL-AND-SOCKET JOINT.--TOGGLE OR KNEE JOINT 308

II. CRUSHING INSTRUMENTS.--THE NUT-CRACKERS, ROLLING-MILL, AND GRINDSTONE.--PRESSURE OF ATMOSPHERE.--SEED DIBBLES AND DRILLS 320

III. CLOTH-DRESSING.--BRUSHES AND COMBS.--BUTTONS, HOOKS AND EYES, AND CLASP 339

IV. THE STOPPER, OR CORK.--THE FILTER 350

V. THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SPRING.--THE ELASTIC SPRING.--ACCUMULATORS.--THE SPIRAL SPRING 360

VI. SPIRAL AND RINGED TISSUES.--VARIOUS SPRINGS IN NATURE AND ART 375

VII. FOOD AND COMFORT 390

VIII. DOMESTIC COMFORT 400

IX. ARTIFICIAL WARMTH.--RING AND STAPLE.--THE FAN 412

X. WATER, AND MEANS OF PROCURING IT 422

XI. AËROSTATICS.--WEIGHT OF AIR.--EXPANSION BY HEAT 436

XII. DITTO CONTINUED 447

XIII. TELESCOPIC TUBES.--DIRECT ACTION.--DISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHT.--TREE-CLIMBING.--THE WHEEL 460

XIV. PAPER AND MOULDING 472

XV. ELECTRICITY AND GALVANISM 482

XVI. TILLAGE.--DRAINAGE.--SPIRAL PRINCIPLE.--CENTRIFUGAL FORCE 492

XVII. OSCILLATION.--UNITED STRENGTH.--THE DOME 504

ACOUSTICS.

I. PERCUSSION.--THE STRING AND REED.--THE TRUMPET.--EAR-TRUMPET.--STETHOSCOPE 513

NAUTICAL.