Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1876.

Excerpt from Lecture on Artificial Flight: Given by Request at the Academy of Natural Sciences at San Francisco, California, August 7th, 1876 With Reference to a Model of His Own Invention The problem of artificial flight is of such great im portance to civilization so interesting and fascinating, not only to the student, but to every one and it al lows us to indulge in such a wide field for speculation as to the great changes which Will be wrought by the practical solution of it in the social, political and com mercial world, that I must beg of you to consider only my good intentions in appearing before you, and par don my shortcomings as a lecturer. It is my first at tempt, and is simply undertaken to bring the subject more understandingly before the public, that they may assist, morally, and pecuniarily, the several inventors who are wrestling with it more or less success fully - some rather less. If only one inventor in a hundred should meet with flattering results, the atten tion bestowed upon all will be repaid a thousand fold, by that one's success. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.